The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has held the first off-cycle polls since the 2023 general elections with Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi State residents deciding on their governors for new four-year terms.

A total of 46,084 regular and ad hoc staff were deployed in the three states, according to the electoral body.

At least 126 national and international organisations were accredited with 11,000 observers deployed for the elections, while 80 media organisations applied to deploy 1,203 personnel, including journalists and technical/support staff.

All 18 political parties contested in Kogi, while Imo and Bayelsa have 17 and 16 candidates, respectively. The parties deployed 137,934 agents made up of 130,093 polling and 7,841 collation agents for the election.

To ensure a secure environment for electoral conduct, the police mobilised a total of 92,565 personnel, including 27,000 in Bayelsa, 25,565 in Imo, and 40,000 in Kogi, and several assets such as five helicopters and 15 gunboats.

The Federal Road Safety Corps also deployed 1,500 operatives and 105 vehicles.

According to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the elections would be held in 10,470 polling units across 649 electoral wards in 56 local government areas.

12:28 pm: Results for Kabba-Bunu LGA, Kogi State (CODE 10)

A – 17
AA – 196
AAC – 23
ADC – 1,537
ADP – 73
APC – 12,376
APGA – 16
APM – 08
APP – 10
BP – 03
LP – 07
NNPP – 07
NRM – 16
PDP – 8,566
PRP – 12
SDP – 942
YPP – 11
ZLP – 03

Total Valid Votes: 23,823
Rejected Votes: 419
Total Votes Cast: 24,242
No. of Registered Voters: 87,162
Total No. of Accredited Voters: 24,242

Election Officer: Joy Daniel
LG Collation Officer: N/A

There was a cancellation in Polling Unit 09 at RA 10 with 174 total registered voters. According to the LG collation officer, the cancellation was a result of the refusal to use the BVAS. No cancellations or incidents of violence, according to the collation officer.

12:19 pm: While the Kogi State Returning Officer assures the complainants that their petitions will be reviewed by INEC, the SDP representative, Mr Edibo, says it is a matter of law that the collation should not continue until the issues raised are addressed.

Nevertheless, collation continues.

12:16 pm: The PDP representative at the Kogi Collation Centre, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Mahmud, says he adopted the petition filed by the SDP.

In his remarks, however, the representative of the APC objects to the complaints made by the previous speakers, saying there were no such issues as mentioned by the SDP and the PDP.

12:14 pm: The representative of the SDP in Kogi, David Edibo, says he has petitions concerning the elections in Okehi, Okene and some polling units in Lokoja LGA due to alleged corrupt practices and sundry issues.

He adds that party agents were not allowed near the voting areas in Okehi and Okene LGAs.

12:12 pm: The Bayelsa Collation Centre adjourns sitting till 3 pm when other results are expected to have come in.

12:05 pm: Results for Yagba West LG, Kogi (CODE 21)

A – 29
AA – 31
AAC – 16
ADC – 4,556
ADP – 59
APC – 7,969
APGA – 05
APM – 04
APP – 03
BP – 01
LP – 03
NNPP – 03
NRM – 09
PDP – 3,010
PRP – 30
SDP – 1,002
YPP – 05
ZLP – 03

Total Valid Votes: 16,738
Rejected Votes: 363
Total Votes Cast: 17,101
No. of Registered Voters: 51,234
Total No. of Accredited Voters: 17,152

Electoral Officer: Mohammed
LG Collation Officer: Prof Christian Agbo of the University of Nsukka

No cancellations and incidents of violence, according to the Collation Officer.

11:59 am: Results for Idah LGA, Kogi (CODE 07)

A – 39
AA – 03
AAC – 08
ADC – 91
ADP – 22
APC – 20,33
APGA – 18
APM – 03
APP – 58
BP – 03
LP – 10
NNPP – 06
NRM – 05
PDP – 271
PRP – 51
SDP – 20,059
YPP – 46
ZLP – 16

Total Valid Votes: 22,742
Rejected Votes: 280
Total Votes Cast: 23,022
No. of Registered Voters: 64,339
Total No. of Accredited Voters: 23,044

No incident of cancellation is recorded.

11:53 am: The results for Ogori Magongo LGA, Kogi State are received after the correction of mix-ups.

11:52 am: Results for Yenagoa LGA (15 Wards) in Bayelsa State

APC – 14,534
LP – 244
PDP – 37,777

Number of Registered voters: 218,394
Accredited Voters: 54,380

11:51 am: According to the LGA collation officer in Ogori Magongo, Kogi, the election was only held in one ward, Oshobane — it was not conducted in nine wards.

11:47 am: The results in Ogori Magongo LGA, Kogi have been stepped down due to some mix-ups in the figures.

11:40 am: The collation officer for Ogori Magongo LGA in Kogi State says results were not received from 10 Registration Areas.

11:39 am: Results for Ogori Magongo LGA in Kogi State (CODE O1).

A – 00
AA – 00
AAC – 00
ADC – 11
ADP – 01
APC – 362
APGA – 00
APM – 00
APP – 00
BP – 00
LP – 01
NNPP – 00
NRM – 02
PDP – 86
PRP – 00
SDP – 195
YPP – 00
ZLP – 00

Total Valid Votes: 658
Rejected Votes: 07
Total Votes Cast: 665

No. of Registered Voters: 17,688
Total No. of Accredited Voters: 665

Electoral Officer: Garba Isah
LG Collation Officer: Dr. Kingsley Ogunemilo, University of Nsukka

11:32 am: Results for Ogbia LGA in Bayelsa State

APC – 16,319
LP – 57
PDP – 18,435

Number of Registered voters: 119,571
Accredited Voters: 36,955

11:26 am: Kogi Returning Officer, Prof. Urama, says, as electoral officials, they have taken an oath of neutrality.

He calls on all stakeholders present to cooperate with them, assuring the public that the electoral officials will dispense their assignment with fairness and honesty.