Presidential elections: Bomb blast will not deter us from voting

Two bomb blasts at Maidokiri polling unit and Abbaganaram Primary School collation centre, were all it took to mar the National Assembly elections in Maiduguri, Borno State capital last Saturday.

A police woman and a student polling clerk died as a result. Many others sustained serious injuries.

The fear, since then, had been that voters in the affected area might shun future polls out of concern for their lives.

But as the presidential elections hold today, the people have said they will be back on the queue to accredit and vote for the president of their choice.

Malam Jibrilla Dala, a retired Civil Servant, said if the master-minds of last Saturday’s blasts thought the people would be discouraged, they will be shocked to find thousands of voters ready to vote today.

Dala said he has personally been calling on the people to come out and exercise their civic responsibility despite the bloody incident.

Malam Umar Saji, a civil servant, said although the blasts were meant to scare voters, people like him have resolved to vote today.

Mohammed Kachalla, an auto-dealer also said he will vote today because citizens like him are committed to effecting change through the ballot box.