A 74-year-old man, Pa Julius Nwafor, was among the earliest voters to arrive at Polling Unit 002, located on Umuezeadigo Street in the Isuofia community, Aguata Local Government Area, as the Anambra governorship election commenced on Saturday.
Isuofia is the hometown of the incumbent governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, while Aguata is one of the seven local government areas in Anambra South Senatorial District.
Pa Nwafor, who was led to the polling centre by his elderly daughter around 7:30 a.m., told Punch that exercising his franchise was a duty he owed to Nigeria, regardless of his physical challenge.
He said, “Even though I am visually impaired, as far as I am a Nigerian, I am supposed to vote to satisfy my conscience. And that’s why I am here.”
Despite his condition, the elderly trader waited patiently under the early morning sun as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) set up accreditation materials.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, one of ten logistics support commissioners deployed to monitor the Anambra election, hailed the level of preparedness and the early arrival of voters.
He said, “It is obvious they are ready, considering the orderliness and the rate they are coming in.”
He added that accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would begin at 8:30 a.m., followed immediately by the voting process.
The governorship election features 16 candidates, including Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who is seeking re-election amid rising opposition momentum and growing voter dissatisfaction.
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