Kunle Adelabu
It was a commendation galore for the non – government and non – profit organization, Pepc Foundation, as electorates commended its management for providing them with refreshments during the Presidential and National Assembly elections about two weeks ago.
The Pepc team, which themed the exercise: ‘Your Vote Counts’, covered about 100 polling units in Ikorodu Constituency I and II, providing residents with gala, water and soft drinks.
In Ikorodu Constituency I, the foundation covered Ikorodu Central Local government; as they visited many polling booths within the Ikorodu township, Ipakodo, Ebute – Iga, and Losi Oba among others, as well as Ijede, Abule – Eko, Ibeshe, Agunfoye and several other areas in lkorodu Constituency II.
A resident, Mr Erinjogunola Yusuf who voted at the Olu – Odo junction polling booth, commended the non – governmental body for the gesture.
“It is actually a good gesture from Pepc Foundation which is a well – known humanitarian organisation, to support the people and the government for the election. The group has been assisting people long before the election. We really thank them for what they have been doing, and we pray to God to continue to enrich their pockets”.
Alfa Ahmed, who also voted at the same polling booth, also welcomed the idea.
“We pray for the foundation to increase from strength to strength. They came here to present all of us with gala, water and soft drinks, which is a welcome idea. We thank them”.
Mrs Kafaya Shodipe, who voted at Aga, speaking with THE IMPACT, also thanked Pepc for the gesture.
“What they did was indeed a relief to many, considering the scarcity of naira and the harsh economy on the citizenry. The provision of gala, water and soft drink to all the voters really provided many with the strength and encouragement to come out to vote and stay behind peacefully after casting their votes”, she said.
“People were really thankful for the gesture that Pepc extended to them, a body which is very well known to us, having been supporting parents and children with educational materials as well as the senior citizens, widows among others”.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of PEPC Foundation for the electoral support project, Mr Monzor Akinsanya, speaking about the project, said that the gesture was all about supporting the people and the government towards a peaceful and successful conduct of the election.
“We have done a series of projects, but this very project is tagged: ‘Your Vote Counts’. The project is all about providing refreshment for people to come, vote and support the government to have a peaceful election”, he said.
“We provided them refreshments in order to encourage them to come out knowing that there is a cash crunch which has increased suffering in the country. It was just our way of making people happy during the election and ensuring that we have a nice elections.
“In most of the polling units that we went to, people are quite overwhelmed and happy with the organization for coming to give them refreshment without supporting any party or ethnic group.
“On enquiry, we did explained to them that we are not supporting any party, individual or ethnic group, rather, we are participating in the elections to provide refreshments, regardless of tribes, ethnicity, party or age”.
He described the electoral process as nice and peaceful.
“It was a very nice election despite all the fears that there would be chaos, but with what we have seen, it has been very peaceful and nice. Kudos to the government”.
