97-year-old Osun voter recalls voting under Awolowo, urges youths to vote
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
At 97, Isaac Adeniran Adesanmi is still participating in Nigeria’s electoral process, decades after he first cast his ballot during the era of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Adesanmi, a great-grandfather, turned up at NUD Primary School, Collation Centre, Unit 1, Ward 4, Ilase Ijesa, in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, on Saturday to participate in the governorship election.
Brought to the polling unit by his relatives, the elderly voter experienced a delay in accreditation after the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed to capture his face and fingerprint.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials urged him to remain patient as they made efforts to accredit him.
Speaking with journalists, the nonagenarian, whose name appeared as number 116 on the voters’ register, said elections had remained an important part of his life since he began voting during Awolowo’s era.
“I am 97 years old and I started voting during the time of Awolowo. I always vote whenever an election comes up. I have been voting in Kaduna before I came back home,” he said.
On his advice to youths and other Nigerians, he said, “I will advise youths to vote because if they do not, the kind of leaders they want will not be there. My message to Nigerians is to continue to vote at all costs and vote for the people they like”.
