The campaigns are over. Election day is here. Today, the people of Anambra State will choose who will govern the state for the next four years. And they have a big task on their hands.
Thirty-seven candidates are contesting in the election, including incumbent Governor, Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
With the All Progressives Congress trying to get a better hold on the South East, the Peoples Democratic Party testing its preparations ahead of the 2019 general elections and other parties trying to displace the major players, much is at stake.
Stay with Channels for live updates from the light of the nation.
7: 12 am: It has been a quiet start to the day with roads deserted in Awka, the state capital, as of 7 am, in line with the restriction of vehicular movement.
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Meanwhile, residents living around the Eke Awka roundabout, in Awka woke up to see the scene of an accident. A container fell off a truck and crushed a tricycle.
Eyewitnesses said no one was hurt in the accident which occurred around 10 pm on Friday.
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Electoral materials started arriving at several wards and polling units after 7am.
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7:35 am: Electoral materials arrive at Agulu Village Square Ward IV.
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8:00 am: INEC Adhoc staff and electoral material have yet to arrive at Ward II Amatutu village in Anambra central.
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8: 20 am: The usually busy Bridge Head axis of Onitsha is deserted.
On Friday, the Police announced the closure of the Niger Bridge for the election.
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9:30 am: Accreditation and voting is now ongoing in many polling units across the state.
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9:49 am: Accreditation and voting going on smoothly in most polling units in Anambra Central except for a few polling units where voting materials arrived late.
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9:57 am: Man Arrested For Trying To Buy Votes
Officials of the Department of State Services have arrested a man for trying to buy votes in the ongoing Anambra governorship election.
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10: 10 am: UPP goverorship candidate, Osita Chidoka has been accredited.
The UPP candidate is, however, unhappy with the delay in the arrival of electoral material and commencement of accreditation and voting.
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11:14 am: Despite the scorching heat, voters at Amawbia, Awka South LGA are resolute in their desire to vote.
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12:06 pm: Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area in Anambra North is calm and the voters say INEC has really improved as the card readers are working properly.
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12: 27 pm: Chief Victor Umeh has voted in Aguzigbo ward, Anambra central senatorial district.
According to him, the card reader has failed in one out of the 18 polling units in this ward. So, voting is only going on in 17 out of 18 polling units in the Aguluzigbo ward.
1:19 pm: INEC officials just arrived at Umuchu Ward 1, Polling Unit 001 Aguata LGA – polling unit of Godwin Ezeemo.
Electoral Materials Arrive At Ezeemo’s Ward Five Hours Late
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1:46 pm: DSS releases man arrested for allegedly trying to buy votes.
The man is claiming that the cash that he had on him was meant for the payment of his party agents.
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In case you missed it: INEC Blames Corps Members For Late Arrival Of Electoral Materials
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2:41 pm: Meanwhile, incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Willie Obiano, has been accredited.
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2:54 pm: Counting of votes has commenced in polling units where elections commenced as scheduled.
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3:30 pm: Counting begins in Umunri Ward II Anambra Central
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03:35 pm: At Nkpor Ward I, polling unit 010 in Idemili North Local Government Area, there were complaints of low turnout of voters and late arrival of INEC officials.
However, voting has been concluded while counting commenced almost immediately.
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05:42 pm: Governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) Godwin Ezeemo casts his vote after he was accredited.
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With counting going on in most of the polling units, here are some stories from today’s election:
Voters Storm Polling Units For Election
Ezeemo Calls For Extension Of Voting In Aguata
Man Arrested For Trying To Buy Votes
Corps Members Play Their Parts In #AnambraDecides
We Tried To Induce People To Vote, Says Man Arrested By DSS
INEC Blames Corps Members For Late Arrival Of Materials
DSS Releases Man Arrested For Allegedly Buying Votes
Electoral Materials Arrive At Ezeemo’s Ward Five Hours Late
Counting Of Votes Commences After Slow Start To Poll
Late Arrival Of Materials Causes Setback As #AnambraDecides
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With the counting of votes over in polling units accross the state, results are being collated for all the local government areas. The results will be announced announced subsequently by INEC.
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8:17 pm: Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission has commended the Police for maintaining law and order during the election.
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At the INEC situation room in Awka, where results are going to be collated and announced, it is not clear when the process would start.
Ahead of the collation of results, there have been reports of incidents in some areas such as Amawbia and Ozubulu. The reports indicate that collation officers in those areas were not found and that there were incidents of ballot snatching.
The police have also said some arrests were made in the course of the election. Details of the arrests have yet to be provided.
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10:09 pm: Mr Clement Nwankwo, the Convener of the Election Situation Room – a coalition of civil society organisations, said there was apprehension at the start of the election, especially with the threats by the Indigenous People of Biafra to disrupt it.
He, however, said the election had “relatively gone on peacefully”.
He added, “Of course, there were several incidents of violence, officials turning up late in a few places, some cases of officials even making away with some of the ballot papers and so on. But the police have been very responsive.”
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Thanks for joining Channels TV for live updates on Saturday’s election. For live updates on the collation of results click here.
