High Turnout of Voters in Off-Cycle Election in Some Part of Kogi State.
There was high turn out of voters in most of the polling units visited in Okene Local Government Area of the State where Gov Bello Yahaya and the APC Candidate ,Usman Ododo hails from.
INEC officials arrived on time in most of the polling centers with sensitive and non-sensitive materials while accreditation and voting commenced before 8:30am.
Most of the voters at the polling centers expressed enthusiasm to cast their vote.
The State Governor,Yahaya Bello who casted his vote at Polling Unit 11 in Agasa- Uvete,Okene Local Government Area of the State and APC Candidate for the Governorship Election,Alhaji Usman Ododo who also casted his vote at Polling Unit 1-9,Roman Catholic Mission School in Upogoro Community,also in Okene Local Government Area, both expressed satisfaction with the exercise, commending the Independent National Electoral Commission as well as Security Agencies for the role they play during the exercise.
The atmosphere is calm with security in the State as Security agents were seen carrying out their duty professionally.
However, at Lokoja the State Capital, there was a low turnout of voters in the early hours of the day with allegations of vote-buying reported in some polling units with voters allegedly being given money after casting their votes.
The All Progressives Congress party agent attached to Federal Medical Centre junction polling unit 058, Lokoja Local Government Area, was also allegedly involved in vote-buying. He was reportedly seen luring voters to the back of the polling unit and giving them money after they cast their votes.
Also, in Igala Mela Local Government, a local government Chairman apprehended over alleged vote buying, possession of large amounts of cash and possession of ammunition.