NEWS ON ELECTION DAY!

Bayelsa on fire
Less than 24 hours to the presidential and National Assembly elections, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital was turned into a war zone on Friday as scores of militants invaded the state and engaged soldiers in a gun battle lasting several hours. Bombs and other explosives were freely used.

The militants stormed Yenagoa from the water side in many speed boats and immediately started shooting as they invaded the Police headquarters. The superior weapons used by militants over whelmed the police, as all men and officers of the command took to their heels.

After taking over the police headquarters, the militants advanced towards the Bayelsa state Government House and the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. As the militants advance towards the government house and the INEC office, the army engaged them in a shootout, preventing them from advancing further.

The army and police moved to secure Governor Goodluck Jonathan who was in his office. Jonathan and his family were moved from his office to his lodge. But when the shooting persisted as the militants advanced thorough the secretariat annex complex towards the back gate of the lodge, Jonathan was moved again to an undisclosed location, while the government house gate was closed.

It was later found out that the bulk of the security operatives actually fled for their lives when the shooting became unbearable. Soldiers and other security operatives who managed to escape from the shooting were said to have immediately removed their uniforms and run into the streets to mix with residents.

On what might have prompted the attack, reports are saying that the militants were convinced that there was thumb-printing of ballot papers already going on at the government house, in readiness for today’s presidential election, in which Gov. Jonathan is running mate to Gov. Umaru Yar’Adua, presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).


Atiku in Yola for presidential poll
Vice President Atiku Abubakar arrived Yola, Adamawa State capital some minuted past 5 pm yesterday preparatory to the presidential elections today where he stands as contestant on the platform of the AC.The arrivalof Atiku had been awaited since Thursday when news filtered into town that he was expected as he is to cast his vote in his Ajiya Ward in the state capital.

New date for Imo Governoship elections
The rescheduled Imo Governorship election is no more 28th of April, INEC just announced a new date, Tuesday 24th 2007. The election in the state which held 14th April was cancelled by INEC due to irregularities.

Senatorial elections in Lagos
INEC just announced that the Senatorial elections in Lagos can only be conducted in ONE Senatorial district. The Lagos East Senatarial District. This they say is because of some omissions in ballot papers. This is wrong! Right? This announcement came just 5 minutes to 10. 5 minutes before the election starts.

National Assembly election postponed
Delta and Abia State National Assembly (Senate and House of Rep) elections has been postponed by INEC in those states owing to discrepancies in the ballot papers.