Polls opened in Cross River state south south Nigeria for the last in the series of governorship re- elections in five states affected by the Supreme Court ruling that nullified the tenure of the sitting governors.

Our correspondent covering the polls in Cross River reports that accreditation started late in most of the polling centres he visited owing to the late distribution of electoral material to INEC officials.

The exercise had not started in some centres as late as 10.45 am.

There had been doubts about the elections taking place today owing to a suit seeking to postpone it till March 19, 2012.

However, INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, dismissed report that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had stopped the governorship election insisting that it is proceeding with the poll as scheduled.

The presiding judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati refused to grant an application brought by the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Mr Oboi Okomiso seeking to stop INEC from going ahead with the poll.