Don’t give up on elections; 97-year-old voter urges Nigerians

Isaac Adeniran Adesanmi, a 97-year-old great-grandfather, remains a steadfast voter, asserting that participating in elections is a civic right he will always exercise. He was among the elderly voters who cast their ballots at the NUD Primary School Collation Centre in Ilase Ijesa, Osun State, for the recent election. Adesanmi, who has been voting since the time of the late Obafemi Awolowo, stressed the importance of continuous participation.

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I am 97 years old, and I started voting during the time of Awolowo. I always vote anytime an election comes up. I have been voting in Kaduna before I came back home.

Despite facing a slight delay in accreditation due to issues with the Biometric Verification Accreditation (BVA) system failing to capture his face and fingerprints, election officials assured him of assistance. Adesanmi, whose voter identification number is 116, shared his long history of voting, which began in Kaduna before he returned to his home state.

He strongly advised Nigerian youths to vote, stating that their participation is crucial for electing leaders who align with their aspirations. "If they do not, the kind of leaders they want will not be there," he remarked. His message to all Nigerians was clear: "Continue to vote at all costs and vote for the people they like."

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I will advise youths to vote because if they do not, the kind of leaders they want will not be there. My message for Nigerians is to continue to vote at all costs and vote for the people they like.

When asked for his advice to potential election winners, the nonagenarian simply stated, "I want them to do as they promise." His commitment to the electoral process underscores a deep-seated belief in its power to shape the nation's future.

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I want them to do as they promise.