2019 Election
Lives Updates Of Benue State Governorship Election
All eyes will be on Benue State, ahead of the governorship and state assembly election that will determine who pilots the affairs of the state for the next four year, Naija News Understands.
The race will be a straight fight between two major political parties; the ruling party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). it could also be described as a two-horse race between Governor Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA, Mr Emmanuel Jime, of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Mr. Ortom was first elected governor in 2015 on the platform of APC; he later defected to the PDP after he fell out with his former party.
On his part, Jime, in 1993, was the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and in the current dispensation served as a federal lawmaker. He contested in the APC governorship primary in 2015 but lost to Ortom who, at the time, was in the party. However, there are other political parties participating in the election.
Another prominent factor that shapes the politics in Benue is the presence of godfathers. Some other factors will determine decision making by the 2,480,131 registered voters in the state.
Naija News is on the ground to update you on the happenings in the governorship and state house of assembly elections., keep refreshing this page for the latest update.
05:30 am: From the ancient city of Makurdi, it seems people didn’t sleep. The who city is awake while skirts and trousers are seen all over.
06:50 am: As at 6:50 am, election materials have started arriving some polling units in Makurdi, the state capital.
Time: 6:50am
State: Benue
LGA:Logo
P.U: 007
Election material have arrived and voting about to commence. #SR2019Elections #SRObserves2019.— Situation Room (@SituationRoomNg) March 9, 2019
08:am: As at 8 am, election materials have started arriving some polling units in Makurdi, the state capital.
A check at the Clark ward, Kwararafa Quarters Makurdi, showed that INEC ad hoc staff and materials have since arrived.
08:02am: INEC says the use of smart card reader is compulsory.
Smart Card Reader will be used for the Governorship, State House of Assembly and FCT Area Council Elections today.
Kindly report any irregularities before, during and after the poll by calling INEC on: 0700-CALL-INEC (0700-2255-4632) pic.twitter.com/4srE4BeUtW— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) March 9, 2019
08:30 am: Gunmen set electoral materials on fire in Guma, Gov. Ortom’s village
It was gathered that the hoodlums on arrival fired shots in the air before setting on fire the RCM Primary School Aya, housing the materials.
09:06 am : State: Benue, LGA: Gwer West, Ward: Ikyaghew, PU; 09 Accreditation & Voting going on smoothly.