8:43 a.m. Kogi: Voting begins at Code 9 Polling Unit, Idanuwa Ward, Adavi LGA
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8:37 a.m. Owerri: Electoral materials, INEC officials arrive booth 008 GRA, Owerri.
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Yenagoa: A football game on at Kpansia axis of Bayelsa State capital
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8: 21 a.m. Okene: Heavy military presence at Itakpe Junction, Kogi
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8:04 a.m. Yenagoa: Water vendor on lonely Tolda Street, Ekeki.
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7:41 a.m. Yenagoa: Deserted Azikoro Road by Ekeki Park, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
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7:37 am Owerri: Wethedral Road empty.
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7:28 a.m. Owerri: Police mount reinforced security in front of Imo State Government House.
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ICYMI: Other contestants…
These are some other contestants in the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi elections:
*Uchenna Okere of Accord Party
*Jack Ogunewe of Action Alliance
*Ifeanyi Awulonu of African Action Congress
*Otumbadi Okoroma of African Democratic Congress
*Steve Nwoga of Action Democratic Party
*Anthony Ejiogu of All Progressives Grand Alliance
*Chibuike Edoziem of Allied Peoples Movement
*Obieze Achilike of Action Peoples Party
*Isaac Iwuanyanwu of Boot Party
*Ben Ofunzeh of New Nigeria Peoples Party
*Cole Okwara of National Rescue Movement
*Ishiodu Uchechukwu of People’s Redemption Party
*Bright Ekwebelem of Social Democratic Party
*Chino Opara of Young Progressives Party
*Andy Chibuike of the Zenith Labour Party.
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Good morning to you and welcome to Hmtv, the dependable media house. Today is the off-cycle governorship election in three states — Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.
After over one year of preparation, the stage is finally set.
We’ll, as usual, bring you live updates on the elections from across the states in exciting briefs, pictures and videos.
The candidates
In October 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the timetable for the elections.
The tenure of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State will end on January 14, 2024. Those of Yahaya Bello of Kogi and Senator Douye Diri of Bayelsa will end on January 26, 2024, and February 13, 2024, respectively.
The three governors are facing the political battles of their lives. While Diri and Uzodimma are fighting for re-election, Bello is battling to get his anointed candidate, Usman Ododo, elected.
Voters in these states will be making choices among 52 governorship candidates. Of these, 50 are males.
Furthermore, there are 45 deputy governorship candidates, while seven are females.
The voters
Bayelsa
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.
Imo
In Imo State, below is how it is:
*Registered voters: 2,419,922
*Uncollected PVCs: 101,003
*Voters with PVCs: 2,318,919
*Number of parties contesting: 18
*Two female deputy governorship candidates running.
Kogi
*Registered voters 1,932,654
*Uncollected PVCs 107,715
*Voters with PVCs 1,824,939
*Number of parties contesting 18
*Five female deputy governorship candidates