By Joshua Oladipo
Some Petty traders around Polling Units in Ede and environs, said they recorded impressive sales due to massive turnout of voters during Saturday’s governorship election in the area.
The traders, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, said they wish such exercise happens daily as the opportunity could make huge impact in their socio-economic life.
A bean cake and bread seller, Mrs Toyin Aina, said she had realised more money than she received in a week since she came out from about 7 a.m to 1p.m.
“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 has been rewarding,” she said.
Aina said essential workers and voters had been coming to buy food to keep themselves refreshed, while attending to their responsibilities at the polling units.
Similarly, another trader, Ms Kudirat Adeleke, said she had been moving from one polling unit to another to sell carbonated drinks and bottled water.
Adeleke said she had reached her expected sales target and was planning to take a rest after making good sales.
She attributed her gains to the large turnout of people at various polling units, which provided a ready market for her products.
Another trader, Mr Abdullateef Adebayo, a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator, said he had been providing cash withdrawal services to voters and other residents.
“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 nice opportunity for me,” he said.
Also, Mrs Bukola Olaoye, a food vendor, said she was happy with the turnout of voters and expressed hope that there would be no violence when the election results were announced.
She said the patronage was wonderful and prayed for the peaceful conclusion of the exercise.
Olaoye charged political actors contesting the election to accept the outcome and to ensure that the process remained peaceful, free and credible.
Some voters also said the presence of traders around the polling units was nice, as it afforded the opportunity to buy something from to refresh before voting.
The election is conducted across the 30 Local Government Areas of Osun had so far witnessed peaceful atmosphere with varying reports on voter turnout across the communities.
NAN further reports that voting commenced early in some polling units, while some areas recorded little delay as at the time of filing this report, the exercise is still ongoing in some areas.(NAN)
