This may be my first and last time to vote in Nigeria – Obinna Benedict

Young voters who braved their disappointment after the February 25 presidential election to vote in the governorship election say this may be their last time to vote in Nigeria.

The boys saw again in Elelenwo, Obio/Akpor LGA (PH) how counting was disrupted when it became clear that Labour Party was sweeping the votes.

The young men tried to protect the votes but were overpowered.

In an apparently rehearsed move, some vans moved in and the thugs and election officials jumped in and they moved.

Benedict told BusinessDay in a brief interview that this was his first time to strive to obtain a permanent voter’s card but that his experience in both moments were bitter.

Read also: Voter apathy marks governorship, assembly elections in Yobe

“I will only bother to vote again if electronic voting is introduced,” he said.

For now, he hissed, voting is useless because thugs are sent to mess everything.
Benedict is not alone in the decision, some other youths who spoke with BusinessDay on condition of anonymity, on why they were not voting, said they did not see any sense in doing so.

The youths who aired their views in various parts of the country pointed to the “disappointment they had” during the February 25 Presidential election.

“Why must I waste my time again in an election in Nigeria. I have never seen it this way before. What pains me most is that these are the same people that will be reeling out laws and calling themselves government. It is a shame. Nigeria is gone,” a young man who, simply identified himself as Douglas, said.