The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is holding the first off-cycle elections since the 2023 general elections today as the people of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states decide on their governors for new four-year terms.
A total of 46,084 regular and ad hoc staff are deployed in the three states, according to the electoral body.
At least 126 national and international organisations are accredited with 11,000 observers deployed for the elections, while 80 media organisations applied to deploy 1,203 personnel, including journalists and technical/support staff.
All 18 political parties are contesting in Kogi, while Imo and Bayelsa have 17 and 16 candidates, respectively, with the parties deploying 137,934 agents made up of 130,093 polling and 7,841 collation agents.
To ensure a secure environment for electoral conduct, the police mobilised a total of 92,565 personnel, including 27,000 in Bayelsa, 25,565 in Imo, and 40,000 in Kogi, and several assets such as five helicopters and 15 gunboats.
The Federal Road Safety Corps also deployed 1,500 operatives and 105 vehicles.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, says the elections will be held in 10,470 polling units across 649 electoral wards in 56 local government areas.
