A 96-year-old woman, Mrs. Elizabeth Onike, has voiced her disappointment after being denied the chance to vote at her polling unit in Anambra State on Saturday.
The incident occurred at Umudimakasi, Agulu Ward 2, Polling Unit 008, in Aniocha Local Government Area, where Mrs. Onike, visibly emotional, told journalists that she had eagerly anticipated casting her vote in the governorship election but was turned away for not having her voter’s card.
“I wanted to vote today, but they said I cannot because I don’t have my voter’s card,” she lamented. “I came here hoping they would allow me, but they refused.”
Witnesses said the nonagenarian, who insisted she had participated in previous elections, broke down in tears as officials maintained that only accredited voters with Permanent Voter Cards would be allowed to vote.
Despite her age, Mrs. Onike said she had arrived early at the polling unit, determined to take part in the democratic process.
“I am 96 years old, and I still want to vote for the good of our people,” she said.
Her ordeal drew sympathy from voters and election observers at the scene, who appealed to officials to show compassion to elderly citizens while acknowledging that the law mandates proper accreditation and identification before voting.
As Anambra residents cast their ballots to decide the state’s leadership, Mrs. Onike’s experience underscored the difficulties elderly citizens face when eager to fulfill their civic duty but hindered by documentation challenges.
