Welcome to our live coverage of the 2023 governorship elections taking place today, 18 March, across parts of Nigeria.
The governorship elections are being held in 28 out of the 36 states of Nigeria.
Development Diaries reports that elections will not be conducted in eight states – Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun – where off-cycle polls are held at different times.
Elections will not also hold in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as it does not have a governor. or a legislative arm.
Data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shows that voting is expected to take place in 175,518 polling units.
This thread is open to everybody participating in the election. We encourage you to use the comment form below to report activities at the various polling units and collation centres across the country.
You can also send eyewitness/incident reports to editor@developmentdiaries.com.
Refresh this page for updates.
LIVE UPDATES
Saturday, 18 March, 2023
05:05pm: INEC begins uploading of results to IReV portal. Check here for a live update of results from polling units.
05:00pm: From Borno State, sorting and counting onging at polling unit 011, Hizhi Bwala ward, Hawul LGA.
03:15pm: From Adamawa State, voting has ended at polling unit 023, Karewa ward, Yola North.
03:00pm: From Lagos State
— 02Observer (@Synistyle1) March 18, 2023
02:30pm: From Lagos State, a voter alleged that he was attacked by hoodlums.
— Kate Amaka Henshaw (@HenshawKate) March 18, 2023
02:20pm: From Lagos State, hoodlums have attacked a polling unit off Ago Palace Way, Okota, and disrupted the voting process.
Hoodlums Attack Polling Unit Off Ago Palace Way, Disrupt Voting Process #ElectionDay
#PollingUnit #LagosDecides2023 #NigeriaDecides2023 pic.twitter.com/83VjzTiSYB— Channels Television (@channelstv) March 18, 2023
02:10pm: From Bauchi State, voting is ongoing and everywhere is calm at polling unit 018, Kukadi ward, Misau LGA
02:00pm:
Commendable!
Increased participation of women in the electoral process observed across most polling units👏
This is good for the continues growth of our democracy as it ensures the interest & issues that affect women & girls in the society are spotlighted.#NigeriaDecides2023 pic.twitter.com/g7tcZMdyui
— Connected Development [CODE] (@Connected_dev) March 18, 2023
12:15pm: From Ebonyi State, Connected Development (CODE), one of the local observer organisations accredited by INEC, has reported that one of its observers has been ‘harassed and injured’.
JUST IN: Our accredited @UZABE_NG field observer harassed & injured in Ebonyi State!
We are calling on @PoliceNG and all security agencies to prioritize the safety &security of all voters, minority groups, PLWD & everyone on election duty!
Nigerians deserve a peaceful election! https://t.co/6c5Hc3T4DA
— Connected Development [CODE] (@Connected_dev) March 18, 2023
12:11pm: From Gombe State, there is a report of snatching of ballot boxes by unidentified persons at polling unit 001, Deba ward, Deba LGA. Voting has been suspended.
12:10pm: From Lagos State
Can you imagine!
This is from PU 059, INEC officials said they won’t upload from the PU, that it would be uploaded from the center.
Victor olaiya/idahosa aguda polling unit
Code number : 24-20-02-059
Surulere Lagos StateNigerians speak up 📌 pic.twitter.com/303vGcBA7p
— Chlorpheniramine #OBIdients 🇳🇬 (@VictorIsrael_) March 18, 2023
12:00pm: From Lagos State, large turnout at polling unit 022, ward two, Ikorodu.
PHOTOS: Large turnout at PU 022, Ward 2 in Ikorodu, Lagos
There is a large turnout of voters at Ward II, polling unit 022, Wuraola, in the Igbogbo-Bayeku Local Council Development Area in Ikorodu, Lagos State as voters queue to cast their ballots. pic.twitter.com/QOszTPjZry
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) March 18, 2023
11:35am: From Lagos State, Nollywood actress Chioma Akpotha has reported that she was attacked by thugs at her polling unit.
Nollywood Actress Chioma Akpotha has just been attacked by APC thugs at her polling unit in Lagos. #VoteLabourParty Okota Sangotedo Gbadebo Rhodes Fadeyi Kate Henshaw Seyi Law Olumide 49 SANs APC in Lagos Rivers State No LP pic.twitter.com/YBbGn71iDi
— T. Jay (@Rich_Dawg1) March 18, 2023
Lagos State@inecnigeria official heard announcing “we are not uploading, party agents are aware, if you don’t want to vote, no problem…we are not uploading to IREV” at PU 093, Junction of odogbolu / iyarere Close, Ward 2 Aguda, Surulere LGA👎#NigeriaDecides2023 @HamzyCODE pic.twitter.com/IJzIZ5Fmsd
— Connected Development [CODE] (@Connected_dev) March 18, 2023
11:30am: From Kebbi State, voting has been disrupted at polling unit 014, Kokena North, Argungu LGA, by party agents who are demanding that voters display their ballot papers before casting them.
11:20am: From Benue State, voting is ongoing but voter turnout is low at polling unit 007, ward 02, Ohimini LGA.
State: Jigawa
LGA: Dutse
Ward: kachi
Polling Unit: jigawa Edu resources dept
Message: low turnout@inecnigeria @SituationRoomNg#NigeriaDecides2023#FordFoundation pic.twitter.com/vXx61r65LO— ActionAid Nigeria (@ActionAidNG) March 18, 2023
11:00am: From Kano State, party agents, according to Situation Room, are burning votes using wrappers at polling unit 002, Utai ward, Wudil LGA.
10:40am: From Sokoto State, voting is ongoing smoothly at polling unit 003, Shagari ward, Shagari LGA
10:32am: From Ekiti State, voting is ongoing peacefully, although no security officials are seen on the ground, at polling unit 011, ward 02, Oye-Ekiti LGA.
10:31am: From Edo State, voting is ongoing at polling unit 021, ward 05, Uhunwonde LGA
10:30am: From Kano State, voting has commenced at polling unit 006, Karmami ward, Gabasawa LGA.
10:20am: From Jigawa State, voting is ongoing smoothly at polling unit 011, Faleka ward, Malam Madori LGA.
10:10am: From Katsina State, voting is ongoing and BVAS is working properly at polling unit 002, Dudunni ward, Kusada LGA.
Elsewhere in the northwest state, voting has commenced at polling unit 003, Makaurachi ward, Malumfashi LGA
10:05am: From Anambra State, accreditation and voting are ongoing at polling unit 008, Ojota IV ward, Idemili South LGA
10:00am: From Nasarawa State, there are no voters in sight at a polling unit inside Doctor’s Quarters in Iya one ward, Keffi LGA.
09:30am: From Anambra State, accreditation and voting have commenced at polling units 003 and 004, Feggi ward, Onitsha South LGA.
09:00am: From Rivers State, INEC officials are setting up the polling unit 002 at ward 11 in Delga LGA.
08:45am: From Kwara State, INEC staff and voting materials have arrived at polling unit 024, ward Akanbi four, Ilorin South LGA. Voters are waiting for the exercise to commence.
08:40am: From Lagos State, voting has commenced at polling unit 007, Eiyekole, Lagos Island LGA.
07:33am: From Lagos State, INEC officials are setting up electoral materials at polling unit 060, Ilupeju ward, Mushin LGA.
06:30am: From Benue State, INEC officials are already set to begin the voting process at polling unit 011, ward 06, in Tarka LGA.
Polling Unit 011, Registration Area 06 in Tarka Local Government Area, Benue State activated at 6.30am today.#NigeriaDecides2023 pic.twitter.com/ns9IRWRFlt
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) March 18, 2023
