By Reporters
#TrackNigeria Some pregnant women and elderly people have observed that the
conduct of the Saturday and National Assembly elections confirmed their belief
that Nigeria will be a better country.
In separate interviews on Saturday during the elections, most of them said that they came out early in spite of their age and health conditions to cast their vote because of their belief in making the country working.
In Ilase and Ibokun in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun, there was impressive turnout of both the elderly and expectant mothers who came early for accreditation and voting.
Mrs Rashidat Lawal, a pregnant woman at Unit 3, ward 1, Saint Peter Primary School in Obokun Local Government Area of the state, said that she came out early to vote because of her faith in Nigeria.
“I was at the polling unit as early as 6.30 a.m. waiting to be accredited and vote; I came early to vote because I believe in this country and I want a leader that we give my children a better future’’, Lawal said.
She also commended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the timely arrival of voting materials in the polling units in the area.
Similarly, Mr Jonathan Daramola, an octogenarian in the same local government, said that his resolve to see a better Nigeria made him to come out early.
He said that he strongly believe in the promise that Nigerian votes would count at the end of the exercise, commending INEC officials for arriving timely at the polling units.
Mr Wasiu Adebayo, a member of People Living With Disabilities (PLWD), said that he was impressed with the conduct of INEC in the elections.
Adebayo who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at ward 4, unit 1, UD Primary School, in Ilase, Obokun Local Government Area of the state, said that in spite of his disabilities, he came out early to cast his vote, saying “Nigeria will be better when a man of integrity is allowed to rule’’.
Also in Lagos State, Mr Adedoyin Openiyi, 71, a former footballer, said that although he suffered from partial paralysis, he had to come out to vote.
Openiyi, who voted at Popo Aguda Ward (Campos) in Holy Cross Catholic Primary School on Lagos Island, told NAN that he came out to exercise his franchise in spite of his medical condition because of the future of the country.
He also commended INEC, saying “am impressed with the conduct of the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“You can see I have stroke, but I have to be here to vote because I believe that my vote will count. So far so good, I am impressed with the turnout and the way things are going.
“I hope that these elections will be free and fair and a credible leader will emerge’’.
In Abuja, some senior citizens were not left out of the voting process as they turned out to participate in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Mr Emmanuel Abia, 75 and wife, Helen 70, residents of Efab Estate, Life Camp, Abuja, who came out as early as 7 a.m. on Saturday for accreditation, said that they came out to exercise his franchise for a better future for the country.
Abia told NAN that he was impressed with the orderliness in the unit so far, noting that “am impressed, anyway I do not expect anything less because most of the residents of the estate are enlightened, hence their comportment and orderliness.
“Maybe some people may be thinking what I am doing here. I decided to come out to vote because I believe that my vote will count.’’
He commended INEC officials for providing chairs for them to sit on, praying that he would leave the Nigeria of his dream for grandchildren and many more generations to come.
In Ekiti, some voters made brisk business, selling food to other voters who had come early enough and were unable to leave the queue in time.
In Ado-Ekiti, some of the petty traders were seen selling biscuits, water and cooked rice not too far from voting centres.
A rice seller, Mrs Yemi Ajayi, told NAN that after casting her vote, she decided to sell foods to some people who might be hungry.
“I cast my vote for my preferred candidates, so I think I should also make some sales as well as helping some people that need food’’, she said.
Also, Mrs Abigail Fatunbi, a biscuits and sachet water seller, said: “I do not want people who have not eaten before they left house to complain of hunger.
“Whatever proceeds I make today, my family and I will be able to feed at the end of the day’’.(NAN)
