97-Year-Old Man Urges Nigerians to Vote in Elections

A 97-year-old man, Isaac Adesanmi, says he will keep voting in elections because he wants good governance in Nigeria.

Mr Adesanmi was among elderly voters at NUD Primary School, Collation Centre, Unit 1, Ward 4, Ilase-Ijesa, in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State during Saturday’s governorship election.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria that it is the civic duty of any sensible person to vote. He added that whether you vote or not, the winner will still govern you.

Mr Adesanmi was helped to the polling unit by a relative. He was glad he participated in the voting process.

Though Mr Adesanmi faced a slight delay because the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) could not read his face and fingerprints, he eventually voted after several tries when the machine accepted his fingerprints.

Officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) told him to be patient and promised they would try again.

Mr Adesanmi, who was number 116 on the voters’ register, shared that he has been voting since the days of late Obafemi Awolowo, who was the premier of the old Western Region of Nigeria.

“I am 97 years old and I started voting during the time of Awolowo. I always vote whenever an election comes up. I have been voting in Kaduna before I returned home,” he said.

He encouraged the youth and other Nigerians to vote wisely for a better future.

“My message to Nigerians is to continue to vote in all elections and for the right people because that is key to good governance,” he said.

When asked what advice he had for whoever wins the election, the nonagenarian urged the winner to keep the promises made during the campaign.