Nigerians are at the polls right now voting in elections to determine their next leader, and as can be expected it has been a real tense affair.

The elections were initially scheduled for February 14, but had to be postponed amidst security fears (Boko Haram, of course). March 28 was the newly chosen date, and since this morning voting has been in progress.

Still, it seems despite the postponement the elections has failed to remain violence free. Reports indicate gunmen killed at least 8 people in the North-eastern state of Gombe, one of whom was the House of Assembly candidate for the opposition All Progressive Congress.

A party official told Reuters, “Our House of Assembly candidate for Dukku in Gombe has just been assassinated with seven other APC supporters”

It remains to be seen whether it was a politically motivated act or a terrorist one. Irrespective of that, the elections continue unabated.

In other election related issues, people have been having problems with the biometric verification devices. Scores have been pictured washing their hands before voting to facilitate the machine recognising them; and in fact President Jonathan spent close to an hour before he was verified to cast his vote.

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the results would be released on Monday, March 31 2015.