Situation Room: 86% of polling units in Kogi, 66% in Bayelsa opened at official time

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR) says reports from its election observers in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states have indicated a variance in the arrival of officials and opening of polls. 

According to Situation Room, 86 percent of polling units in Kogi and 66 percent in Bayelsa started attending to voters at the official opening time of 8:30 a.m.

The civil society organisation added that the opening of polls in Imo state “was delayed in many polling units”

The organisation said “reports from our observers show that only 29% of the polling units visited opened at 8:30 am”.

“Reports from field observers indicate that a majority (86 per cent) of the polling units observed in Kogi State opened by the official opening time of 8:30 am, while in Bayelsa State 66 per cent of the polling units visited opened by 8.30 am,” a statement by the NCSSR reads.

Situation Room said reports from its observers also showed there was an early show up of voters to the polling units in Kogi and Bayelsa and a low turnout in Imo.

“Generally, there appears to be a good presence of security agents in polling units visited in Kogi and Bayelsa State as observers sighted security personnel in 92 per cent of polling units visited in Kogi State and 86 per cent of polling units in Bayelsa State,” the group said. 

“In Imo State, security personnel were sighted in 47 per cent of the polling units visited.

“Situation Room is closely monitoring the voting process and will issue an interim statement shortly.”