Benue Re-run: Crisis rocks Idabi polling unit, Otukpo, Benue state

The reports in reverse order.....barely minutes before the commencement of accreditation at Otukpo a party agent has been matchetted.
According to the victim, Agbo Icha Emmanuel who is an APC agent, he escorted the ballot box  along with INEC officials from the INEC office in Otukpo.
At Idabi polling booth in Otukpi- Icho where election was to take place, some. Some sponsored thugs tried to steal the ballot box. In the process of preventing them, he was hacked on the head by one Joe.
Another individual by name Imonye Akpoga popularly called Okpeke consistently threw stones at him. But for the timely arrival of the police he would have been killed.
However the perpetrators were said to have escaped into the bush. Reacting to the incident, the Benue state deputy governor Engr. Benson Abounu, who arrived the scene minutes after the episode, described the incident as unfortunate but said security agents have been drafted to the scene to forestall any further occurrence.

Accreditation, voting peaceful in Benue South Senatorial district

Accreditation and voting are ongoing simultaneously in all polling units across the nine local governments of Benue South Senatorial district amidst tight security.
On Saturday during the two electoral processes, there was a massive turn out of voters in Otukpo Local Government, the political base of Sen. David Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party and Mr Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress respectively.
Reports says that apart from the minor skirmishes in Edabi over the location of a polling unit that were promptly resolved, the exercise was peaceful. Both accreditation and voting started between 9a.m. and 9.30a.m across the district.
Speaking to reporters in Otukpo, the Deputy Governor of Benue Mr Benson Abounu, claimed that the some skirmishes arose from alleged attempts by thugs to snatch ballot papers.
He, however, assured the public that security officials were determined to ensure the success of the polls.
The Electoral Officer in charge of Otukpo, Mr James Echaba, said the exercise would hold in all designated polling units, observing that it would also be concluded within the specified time.

Benue south rerun: David Mark casts his vote

Former Senate President, Senator David Mark arrived his VIP, GRA Otukpo ward 1 polling unit at about 10:45 am accompanied by his wife Helen and hid bosom friend, Tunde Ogbeha to cast his vote.
Mark who promptly did his accreditation and voting within minutes expressed confidence that he would get the votes of the Idoma people to turn to the senate.
While condemning violence in some parts of the district, Senator Mark however urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the election is free, fair and transparent.
Meanwhile, Sunday Sun gathered that while the election was fe in some parts of the district, it was characterized by ballot snatching, burning of houses by suspected political thugs and physical assault of political opponents in some parts of the district.
However, there was heavy presence of security operatives all over the nine local government areas that make up the district.

Benue south re-run live update

Early reports of violence coming from Ado LGA in Igumale, ward 1, precisely Osukpo playground, at polling unit 006, by one Sunday Essah, an officer with the Nigeria Customs Service having been told to desist from campaigning for David Mark, slapped a woman for daring him.
In a conversation with the Security agents on the scene, the situation has however been brought under control, underscoring the palpable tension in the minds of people as elections get underway in the Benue Senatorial re-run between Daniel Onjeh and David Mark