Osun Election: Petty traders record brisk sales during poll

Petty traders operating near polling units in Ede and its surrounding areas experienced a surge in sales during the Osun governorship election on Saturday. These vendors attributed their increased patronage to the significant turnout of voters participating in the electoral process.

Several traders shared their experiences in interviews, noting that the election provided a substantial boost to their businesses. Mrs. Toyin Aina, who sells bean cakes and bread, reported earning more between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. than she typically makes in an entire week. "This is an awesome experience and I must thank God that this election came on a date my children had vacated for the long vacation," she said, adding that serving the number of customers who crowded her shop had been rewarding.

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This is an awesome experience and I must thank God that this election came on a date my children had vacated for the long vacation. It hasn’t been easy serving the number of customers who crowded my shop since morning, but to the glory of God, the sales have been rewarding.

Ms. Kudirat Adeleke, selling carbonated drinks and bottled water, moved between polling units and had already met her sales target for the day. She also attributed her success to the large number of voters and residents, which created a ready market. An operator of a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal, Mr. Abdullateef Adebayo, similarly reported good business, providing cash withdrawal services to voters. He noted that fewer POS operators ventured out, creating a favorable opportunity for him.

Food vendor Mrs. Bukola Olaoye expressed satisfaction with the patronage and prayed for a peaceful conclusion to the election. She urged political actors to accept the outcome and maintain a credible process. Voters also welcomed the presence of traders, appreciating the availability of food and drinks while waiting to cast their ballots. Voting occurred across Osun State's 30 Local Government Areas, with varying turnout reports and some delays in voting commencement.

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I have made good business giving customers money either through cash or transfer since I came out. To be sincere, the turnout has been encouraging because not many POS operators dared to come out today, and that provided a nice opportunity for me.