The observers, Hajiya Binta Fati Ali from Borno State and Rose Simon from Abia State were said to be part of the independent monitoring team of the by-election, where the former was representing Voice of Women in Africa while the latter was posted to the state by Simjoy Foundation, Abuja.
Feilding questions shortly after the accident at the Federal Medical Center, Gombe, the Chief of Staff to Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Babayo Gidado, said the vehicle of the independent electoral observers had a head on collision with an oncoming vehicle heading to Kano.
He added that the drivers of the two vehicles, Umar Adamu and Muhammad Ado, with the guide of the independent observers, Adamu Malala, were among those confirmed to have died in the accident alongside the observers, thereby increasing the death toll to five.
Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen shortly after he cast his vote in Gombe, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad, said the election was being conducted in a free and fair atmosphere, with the hope of having generally accepted results.
While in Nafada, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative, Alhaji Usman Bayero Nafada, said he was delighted with the manner the by-election was conducted, adding that the mix-up experienced in the voters register was not a new development in the history of conducting elections in the country.
In three of the local government areas visited by our reporter in Gombe North Senatorial District, it showed that there was a large turnout of voters where people were seen as early as 8 am on queues, waiting to cast their votes.
The result of the by-election was expected to be released as soon as the results were compiled by the Independent Electoral Commission.
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