3:13 pm: Location: Amadikurumor compound square, PU 014, Ward 06. Sagbama LGA

RESULT

APC: 89

PDP: 195

LP: 1

Location: Yindimie-compound square, PU 013 Ward 10. Sagbama LGA

Results

APC: 55

PDP: 137

 

3:08 pm: INEC officials and security personnel just left Ukubie, PU: 001 – 008. They reportedly left in the boat that brought them at 1:12 p.m. Materials did not leave the boat hence there was no election.

 

2:20 pm: Diri emerges victorious in Eradiri Polling Unit, Ward 10, Yenagoa.

 

1:22 pm: Bayelsa State Deputy Governor and running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has cast his ballot at unit 6, Ward 2, Ofoni Community, Sagbama local government. He lamented over attacks, claiming they are meted on his party supporters in Nembe local government. He also said the election is a ballot affair, not a bullet affair.

 

1:20 pm: Voting is yet to commence in Unit 5, Ward 3, Southern Ijaw LGA due to malfunctionality of BVAS. Voters are anxiously waiting for INEC officials to rectify the issue.

 

12:10 pm: BVAS developed a fault at PU 011, Ward 10, Ayama compound square. Sagbama LGA. Voting was suspended for a few minutes. The device is now working again.

 

11:50 am: At PU 15, Ward 13, Otuabale, Ogbia LGA, only one policeman is coordinating hundreds of voters as the queue becomes increasingly disorganised.

 

11:30 am: There is tension in Agorogbene in the Sagbama Local Government Area as three polling units have been invaded. The suspected political thugs stormed the voting points with heavy gunshots.

 

11:03 am: Labour Party candidate says there was massive vote buying.

 

11:00 am:  INEC officials return to the RAC centre Agudama-Ekpetiama community after a fight broke out earlier among the community youths. “There are some challenges right now. When the situation is settled, I believe we will return to the place to start,” the supervisory presiding officer said.

 

10:25 am: Udengs Eradiri, the LP governorship candidate, has accused the “party in power” of using state resources to “buy peoples’ votes” in PU 05, Ward 10, Yenagoa LG.

 

10:06 am: Low turnout at Timipre Sylva’s polling unit in Dukuraku Central Open Space, Okpoama. The unit has 2,865 registered voters. Currently, there are less than 15 voters.

 

9: 46 am: Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Patience, his wife, have arrived at polling unit 39, Ward 13 in Otuoke, Ogbia LGA to cast their votes.

 

9:40 am: Gunshots as police clash with party agents Amaimo Central School, Amaimo ward, Ikeduru LGA over the distribution of election materials.

 

9:38 am: Voting is ongoing at Ward 4, Unit 15, Amarata, Yenagoa.

 

9:08 am: Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri has just cast his vote at PU 004, Sampou/Kalam, Kolokuma/Opokuma LG.

 

8:43 am: Voters at Ward 6, unit 16 Amarata, Yenagoa queuing up to start casting their votes.

 

8: 40 am: Voters at Ogbia local government area of KOLO WARD 9 Unit have started casting their ballots.

 

8.10 am: Electoral officers are already on ground at Kalaowe Owei, Sampou/Kalama, Kolokuma/Opokuma LG in Bayelsa. This is the polling unit of Governor Douye Diri who is seeking reelection.

 

7:52am: The weather is foggy and calm as the people of Bayelsa are expected to troupe out en masse and vote for the candidate of their choice.

For Bayelsa State election, there are 1,056,862 registered voters. However, those with PVCs are 1,017,613. Uncollected PVCs are 39,249, while the number of parties contesting is 16.

There are two female governorship candidates and five female deputy governorship candidates.

7:40 am: Electoral officers are seen with their materials at Agudama Epie RAC centre, Bayelsa state as they are about to head to their respective polling units (Yenogoa) – Kehinde Ayanboade

 

The Bayelsa governorship election has officially kicked off amid fears of insecurity in most parts of the state.

Being a source of worry to many analysts is the peculiar nature of the terrain, as it is believed that there are local governments that security agencies cannot reach. This has since become a threat to the election outcome. Candidates have also accused one another of stockpiling weapons ahead of the exercise.

But despite the outcry over the poor security, police and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have assured Bayelsans of a free, fair and credible poll, devoid of rancour.

Though 16 political parties and their candidates are in the race, the focus will be on the State Governor, Sen Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who seeks re-election, a former governor, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Udengs Eradiri of the Labour Party, LP.

Like Imo state election, it looks likely to be a three-horse race.

Allnews.ng will bring to you minutes-by-minute updates as the election commences in the state.

Stay with us on this thread.