Governorship elections starts in 24 states amid tight security

Abuja-Elections into 24 out of the 36 governorship seats and that of the 34 Houses of Assembly started, Tuesday with tight security across the nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 of the governorship seats are not yet vacant, while elections in Kaduna and Bauchi states, where post-election violence was intense, would hold on April 28.

NAN also reports that elections into the state houses of assembly will not hold in Kaduna and Bauchi states, but will hold in 10 out of the 12 states, where the governorship elections will not hold.

The turnout of voters is low, probably due to the violence in some Northern states, which followed the announcement of the result of the presidential election.

President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was at the polling station in Otuoke in Bayelsa for accreditation at 9.15 on Tuesday.

The frontline political parties which fielded candidates are ruling PDP, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) , Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) and Labour Party.

In all more than 315 candidates are vying for governorship seats nationwide.

A large detachment of security personnel mounted check points at Mararaba, a boundary town between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State.

Check points were located at various spots jointly manned by policemen and soldiers to forestall any violence.