A 96-year-old woman, Mrs. Elizabeth Onike, was seen weeping at Umudim Akasi Polling Unit 019, Agulu II, Ward 8, in Anaocha LGA, Anambra State, after being told she could not vote in the governorship election.
The incident occurred around 10:29 a.m. when the INEC presiding officer informed her that she could not cast her ballot due to the lack of a valid voters card.
The polling unit, which has 830 registered voters, experienced a large turnout of citizens participating in the election.
Speaking in Igbo, Mrs. Onike lamented:
“I have been voting at this polling unit. I voted in the last election, but the INEC officials said I have no valid voters card. My children are outside and none is at home with me. I am pained that I am not going to vote in this election to determine who will be my next governor.”
The incident highlights the challenges faced by elderly voters in accessing their constitutional right to vote, despite decades of civic participation.