‘Why we won’t vote in 2019 polls’

The 2019 general election is scheduled for February 16. So, voters are presently making last minute efforts to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) while preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is at top gear. However, there are still millions of Nigerians who will not vote for a variety of reasons. Daily Trust […]

The 2019 general election is scheduled for February 16. So, voters are presently making last minute efforts to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) while preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is at top gear. However, there are still millions of Nigerians who will not vote for a variety of reasons. Daily Trust spoke to a few.

Al-Mustapha Sani Dutsinma, 17, Student, Kaduna

I will not vote in 2019 elections because I am not eligible to vote. During the last INEC voters’ registration exercise, I accompanied my cousin and was informed that only those who have attained the age of 18 years and above can be registered and issued with Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). This shattered my dream of partaking in this year’s historic election and I wish I am 18 years old.  I therefore look forward to 2023, when the next round of elections will take place, by which time, I will be eligible to vote or even contest.

Bilkisu Bello, Lecturer, Kaduna 

I will not be voting because I want to be safe in the confinement of my home. In my opinion, Kaduna is too vulnerable. Before it was that votes did not count, now that it does, violence finds its way each time some feel aggrieved probably because their candidate did not win. There is the issue of ballot snatching. I cannot go and stay in a queue for long, and then someone will come and snatch the ballot. All these things put together has made me feel I have got better things to do with my time than to go and vote. Rather, I will just pray and hope those that are voting make the right choices for all of us.

Faith Dakwoyi, 30, Businesswoman, Kaduna

I will not be voting in the forthcoming elections because I registered early last year for my voter’s card and I have been going to the centre to collect it, but they keep telling us that it is not ready yet. It is like I have been disenfranchised deliberately. I do hope that I will be able to vote when the election comes up again, but I would have loved to vote in 2019.

Jibril Amir Salihu, 21, Kaduna.

I do not feel motivated to vote because I do not have a desirable candidate among the foremost candidates who happen to be from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While trying not to play down the efforts of the present administration, one cannot ignore the incompetence that has been shown. I am also not hopeful that the PDP candidate can perform better as a result of the manifesto so far. The people with bright ideas to rekindle this country do not stand the slightest chance at the election, hence my lack of zeal to contribute. However, I am hopeful that in the future, things would be much different with regards to the upcoming candidates.

Anthony Okpu, Journalist, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

It would have been necessary for me to vote during election because my PVC is ready and I have had it since 2015. But as a journalist, I will be on duty during election day, so there will be no time for me to go to my polling centre to vote. Our job is very demanding and tasking. My advice to politicians and INEC is that they should allow the votes of Nigerians count in this election. We deserve the best as a nation and that should start with the choices we make. The way politicians are beating drums of war ahead of the election has created fear in the minds of Nigerians. That is why I advised my loves ones to be vigilant during those days and observe the security situation well before going out.

Aniekan David, 23, Businesswoman, Bayelsa

It would have been my delight to exercise my civic responsibility during this forthcoming election, but at the moment, INEC says my voter’s card is not ready. So, it is likely that I will not participate in the election. The fault is not my making but that of INEC’s. Though I know votes hardly count in Nigeria, but the way INEC is conducting itself in the build up to this election, it appears votes will count. So, they should step up the distribution of PVCs and print those ones they say are not ready, so that Nigerians will not unnecessarily be disenfranchised.

Joseph Okon, 17, Student, Oron, Akwa Ibom State 

Already, there is no way I can vote during this election because the Nigerian constitution doesn’t allow people below 18 years to vote. If I enrol in the voters’ registration it will amount to a criminal offense. So, I have to wait for another election, maybe 2023 in order to discharge my franchise as a Nigerian. It is up to those Nigerians who are of voting age to choose wisely in order to bring in good leaders that will change the fortune of this country for the better.

Samuel Ebi, 21, Student, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

I will not vote for obvious reasons. First, I’m yet to collect my PVC. I registered in Southern Ijaw Local Government some few months ago. I paid my way to my area to collect the PVC but was told that mine is not yet ready. If not for the love I have for my state and country, I would not have bothered to spend my hard-earned money and despite the risk involved. It was frustrating to learn that INEC has not printed my PVC.

Secondly, the way it’s going, it appears this election will not be free and fair and our votes may not count. So, it is needless suffering ourselves when politicians already know the outcome. But my prayer is that the will of God prevails.