#EdoDecides2024: 80-year-old woman hails election conduct

An 80-year-old lady, Mary Nwokeye, has rated the Edo State Governorship Election as better than four years ago, saying that voting went well.

Nwokeye, who voted at Olua Primary School, Egor Ward 7, on Saturday, told PUNCH Online that there was no violence and the turnout was also better than last time (four years ago).

“I arrived around 6 am and waited until 9 am when voting started. After six persons, it was my turn. The voting went well. There was no violence, and the turnout is better,” she stated.

Another voter, Samuel Osiokede, said he arrived at the polling unit at about 7 am but rated the turnout at the Open Space, behind the MTN mast by Alaka Junction, as less impressive than four years ago.

The 68-year-old said he voted because he wanted to exercise his civic responsibility, saying, “I voted because I wanted to exercise my civic responsibility.

“This turnout is not good; it is not like the last time when I voted. I came out early, around 7 am, and waited until after nine o’clock to vote.”

For Ugokwe Daniel, the exercise left a frown on his face as he searched without success for his voting point and was leaving the voting centre when PUNCH Online met him.

“I went to where I voted last time, but I was referred to Idia College. There, too, I did not see my name, and I returned here (Emokpae Model Primary School along Mission Road).

According to him, he had searched four different polling centres to no avail and felt unfulfilled that he could not exercise his universal franchise.