Abejukolo (Kogi) – Strong contenders in the Kogi governorship election from the Eastern Senatorial District of the state were accredited early this morning even as electoral materials arrived late in some areas.

The  outgoing state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris was accredited at about 10:30 a.m. at Abejukolo Ward 1, unit 001 where the electoral materials were said to have arrived early enough.

Also at Ogboyaga, Odu Ward 1, in Dekina Local Government Area, the PDP governorship candidate, Capt. Idris Wada was accredited at about 10:30 a.m.

Prince Abubakar Audu, the ACN  was also accredited in Ogbonicha-Alloma in Ofu Local Government Area while James Ocholi of CPC, a lawyer,  and Elder Obollo Okpanachi of ANPP were accredited in Ogbabede, Dekina and Ofakaga in Ofu Local Governments respectively.

The distrbution of electoral materials for the governorship election in the state commenced as early as 6:30 a.m. in many parts of the Eastern Senatorial District.

In Okpo, Olamaboro Local Government INEC officials were seen taking the materials away to their various polling units as early as 6:55 a.m.

Mr Hassan Mohammed, the Electoral Officer for the Local Government said that materials for the 124 polling units in the area had been distributed to the polling clerks for onward movement to their respective units.

In Dekina Local Government where three contenders in the race – Wada, Ocholi, and Mrs Audu come from, distribution started at about 7 a.m. and materials only got to the units at about 10:30 a.m.

Electoral officer for the Local Government, Mr Johnson Bagudu said they encountered logistics challenges in conveying the materials earlier but added that they were later overcome.

Also in Idah, Ofu, Igalamela and Ibaji Local Governments, distribution of the materials started at about between 7:00  a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and materials got to the polling units at between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, accreditation of candidates in most units have been completed and electorate on their queues are anxiously awaiting voting. (NAN)