A 96-year-old woman was left heartbroken during the Anambra State governorship election on Saturday after being denied the right to vote because she could not present her Permanent Voter's Card.
Elderly Voter's Emotional Distress
Mrs. Elizabeth Onike, aged 96, arrived at her designated polling unit at Umudim/Akasi, polling unit 019 in Agulu ward 2, Aniocha local government area, ready to participate in the democratic process. However, her hopes were dashed when electoral officials informed her she could not cast her ballot without her voter's card.
"They said I will not vote because I'm not with my voter's card," the elderly woman told The Guardian when approached at the polling station. Witnesses reported that Mrs. Onike became visibly upset, with one bystander noting, "She's sad because she is not qualified to vote; she lost her voter's card."
Mixed Reactions at Polling Unit
The situation sparked debate among those present at the polling unit. While some citizens advocated for making an exception given her age and apparent willingness to vote, others maintained that INEC regulations must be followed strictly. The disagreement ultimately resulted in advice for the elderly woman to return home without exercising her franchise.
This incident highlighted the strict enforcement of INEC regulations requiring physical presentation of PVCs for voter accreditation, regardless of individual circumstances.
Election Day Challenges Across Anambra
Meanwhile, in other parts of the state, the election faced different challenges. In Onitsha South, several polling units experienced significant delays in commencement due to the late arrival of election materials.
At Christ the King College (CKC), which served as the venue for Ward 1, Units 18, 19, and 20, materials finally arrived at approximately 9:15 a.m. This was nearly two hours after polling was scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. The late start created frustration among eager voters who had arrived early to cast their ballots.
By 9:50 a.m., accreditation had only processed a small number of voters at these affected units, indicating that the delays would likely extend voting hours and potentially affect voter turnout throughout the day.
