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WHAT HAPPENED AT PU25B: EP 3

Two armed policemen look about the voting room. From time to time, they ask Aziza questions. They proceed to look through the windows and doors. Finally, they motion to Aziza and leave.

Aziza returns to the work table just as JJ explains the voting rules to a voter and points him to the voting booth. Policarp stands heavily and excuses himself from the room. JJ looks up to Aziza, eyebrows raised.

Aziza folds her arms tightly across her chest. ‘Well, said to call them if anything.’
JJ clucks her tongue, ‘Told you we’d be fine.’
‘I’d feel much better if they’d stayed though. I tried to tell them but they argued that they’d rather hang around.’

Her hand wanders to the dimple on the bottom of her neck. ‘I still feel—’
JJ rolls her eyes and hands Aziza a stamp. ‘Stamp those booklets, will you? We don’t have time to fret. This will end soon and for good.’
‘Where’s Policarp sef?’ To Aziza, ‘Please signal the next person to come in.’

*

The queue extends for over five-dozen persons. While some on the line have found convenience sitting on wooden benches, Zannu, a young dark-complexioned man in plaid shirt and solid pants roams down the line, then up. He soon finds what he seeks: his coveted space on the queue and slots himself in like a coin in the vending machine. A moment later, an urchin waltz up to him.

‘Fresh guy, vote for TLC and get ten thousand Kra.’
‘Not for sale. Go away.’ Zannu turns his gaze elsewhere.

The urchin waltz away just as quickly as he had come. Another catches his gaze and walks up to him. He whispers conspiratorially to Zannu. Zannu snaps at him. The urchin casts him a spiteful look before walking away.

Zannu gazes into the distance for a moment, hisses, and gets off the line. He heads blindly for a shaded area.
‘So, whom are you voting?’

Zannu makes to snap at his new assailant. Then suddenly realises it’s a woman in shades, dressed in a flowy floral gown. The moment he registers the voice, his frustration melts into awe.

‘Madam Curry! Unbelievable! This is your polling unit?’
Madam Curry winks. ‘Small world, eh?’
‘Do magnates really get to move around just like that?’
‘Well, if an award-winning PhD student from the States can, why can’t I?’
Zannu squirms.

‘You were leaving?’
Zannu tuts. ‘Well, I’ve been on the queue for a while but these urchins keep pestering me about selling my vote. What irks me most is that the very party I’m rooting for is also involved in this drivel. Dude said he’d pay me fifteen thousand Kra to vote my candidate.’ Scoffs. ‘Maybe it’s just me but since returning from the States, this is the worst I’ve seen. Oh, sorry to be bothering you with this, it’s probably nothing to you…’

‘Oh, it’s mindless. Yours was even discreet. As I drove in, there are those outside the gate calling out with megaphones.’ Pause. ‘Nonetheless, you’d be shocked to know that people will still vote their conscience.’
‘I highly doubt that. This is a game where the highest bidder wins.’

Madam Curry adjusts her shades. ‘Funny though, you’re the only person I’ve met after all who’s spoken against the act. Everyone seems cool with it.’
‘Why’d something so evil be so cool?’
‘That’s your conscience speaking—lucky you. But do you know what happens each time you subject your conscience to this kind of torture? You get to the point where you feel there’s no point in trying. Then hope diminishes until you are overtaken by the same evil you speak of. Would you really feel better if that happened?’

Zannu pauses, then shakes his head.
‘So I advise, let’s be calm and cast our votes. I also left my place on the queue to stroll around. Who knew I’d find the revolutionary who returned from the States for the love of his country.’
Zannu grimaces.

‘Sane people like you are what we need to keep going. We can’t give in to the darkness.’
‘Fine... fine. But I’ll leave afterwards. It’s all just the same.’

*

A Toyota Highlander drives onto a safe clearing on the football pitch.
‘Get the refreshment to the election officers and check on what’s going on. Be back here in exactly six minutes and leave the engine running.’ The elder statesman says.

The liveried chauffeur scurries to the back of the jeep. The boot slams and it becomes silent. The statesman dials a number. A gruff voice answers harshly. After a long moment, the statesman responds:
‘Don’t worry sir, I’ll deliver… yes. Okay. Definitely, this ward is yours… yes. Don’t worry sir. Thank you.’

The call ends and the statesman bites his lips.
He dials another number and a moment later, Viper materialises from behind one of the classroom blocks and approaches the car.

The tinted window slides down. ‘You wan spoil market for me abi.’
Viper makes to protest, then stays silent.
‘Why oda parties dey convert more voters pass us?’
‘Oga mi. Dem nor fit. Me I pass Morris for this game o, Oga. I swear…’

The statesman observes Viper warily and shakes his head.
‘You no be the Viper wey I sabi. Wetin do you? Chairmanship elections, we lost, because you dey do sume-sume. See oh, if you pour my medicine troway, I go break your egg. That your slot… shebi na eight years you don wait, you just start.’

The window rolls up.
Viper’s eyes dart maliciously as he walks back to the classroom block.

WHAT HAPPENED AT PU25B: EP 2

Aziza sits ramrod straight in her chair, arms folded across her chest, and her light-complexioned face slightly flushed. JJ repositions the wooden barricade against the emergency entrance while Policarp stands aside, bemused.

‘I just knew we had this coming. You guys should’ve listened to me.’
‘Relax, Aziza. He’s gone now, isn’t he?’
‘Did you see the malevolent look on his face?’

Policarp pounds a fist into the wall. ‘Na God save am. Dey no born am well mek he follow me relate laidat. I for use blow scatta im papa face.’
JJ smiles. ‘Honestly, there’s no point in violence when you can defuse a bomb with a simple smile.’

Policarp scoffs. ‘Dey play. You wan dey follow street smile.’
‘So you guys really think that guy is gone?’ Aziza asks, incredulous.
Policarp reaches for the unused ballot booklet.
‘Okay. Mek we do am like this. I go hide this one, so dat if he or im boys come back, we go tell dem say the booklet don finish. We sha no fit finish the two booklet, abi?’

‘Better not to keep trouble lying around, eh?’ JJ purses her lips, then shrugs.
‘And you think that clears this up?’ Aziza asks.
‘Notin’ dey there na. I go just put am for inside the personnel bus. Nobody fit touch am for there.’ Policarp looks to JJ for consent.

JJ shrugs again. ‘At least, until we can figure out a more concrete solution.’
Policarp heads for the door. The furrows on Aziza’s brow deepen and her lips turns down in the shape of an inverted bowl.

‘Guys… wait. Lets’ take another look at this.’ She hesitates. ‘What if we just hand this guy the stuff, the booklet-whatever, I mean, he’ll just do whatever he wants, right? Give us some money perhaps—I mean—I’m not interested in the money, I just want us to go home in one piece. I’ve heard dangerous things about these guys.’

‘So mek I go find the guy, give am the booklet abi wetin you dey yarn? You sef reason am na.’
‘Why we con dey hide the booklet?’ Aziza retorts.
JJ dusts off her hands noisily and returns to her seat. She gets caught in a dizzying sneezing bout. Despite herself, Aziza hands JJ a hanky.

A moment later, calm and red-eyed, JJ says, ‘I can understand your anxiety, Aziza. I am worried too, but remember we talked about this. We’re not in this for the money. We are doing this, first, for our consciences, and then for the future of this country, yes? And no puny merchant will walk in here, hoping to change that.’

‘You don’t get… it’s not about the money for me too, but if, I mean... You guys know what is at stake here.’
Profanities sift into the room from outside. JJ shakes herself awake.

‘Let’s not drag this any further. Aziza, why don’t you secure the booklet? On your way back, inform the police about the situation. Perhaps they can come over and party with us until we’re done. Policarp will help with stamping.’
Aziza grimaces. Policarp cocks an eyebrow.

He says to JJ almost conspiratorially, ‘Sure say she go fit do am?’
Aziza shoots up like a rocket. She stops just short of Policarp’s face.
‘Wetin you mean? No, wetin you mean!’
‘Na play I dey.’
Aziza snatches the booklet from him and stumbles out of the classroom.
Policarp blows a quiet raspberry after her.

*

Minutes before the invasion, Viper is perched on the edge of his seat, attending a call, during which his jaws tighten and his eyes narrow into slits. When the call ends, he pushes away noisily from his table. He casts a stony gaze at one of the boys leaning lazily against the window frame softly playing music from his phone.

The goon is absented-minded until a member taps him awake. The room hushes into a quieter hush. Viper stands and approaches the member who tapped the goon awake.

‘Who ask you?’ Viper says. The boy’s eyes register shock just before a barrage of blows and kicks rain on him, knocking him over. Viper returns to his seat in calm fury and wipes his red knuckles with a handkerchief. He adjusts his oversized linen shirt over his pants before perching on the edge of a desk.

‘How many voters una don catch today?’
A flurry of conflicting answers emerges from the goons. Viper hushes them with a wave of the hand.
‘Na why Morris’ boys dey get more voters than us I wan understand.’
Another flurry of answers.

Viper flies to his feet, knocking the desk over. He reaches for his chair and swings it into the mass of flesh. Yelps erupt and half a dozen goons scamper from the room.

‘I pay una to sidan dey look? Una dey craze! Before I come back, anything wey mek me hear say YYY no dey front.’
Viper pats his pockets abruptly, muttering amid breathes. His face registers recollection. He calls back one of the goons.

‘You, where the thing wey I say mek you kip for me?’
The goon hands him a pouch, keeping a safe distance.
Viper pats his pockets some more, then stumbles out of the room.


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WHAT HAPPENED AT PU25B: EP 1

The unforgiving rays of the sun beat down on the large acreage called Lebi High School, forbidding almost any shadow from being cast. On the exterior of classroom 2, a large printout states, ‘Polling Unit 25B. Voting in Progress.’ A long queue stands just outside this room. Amidst the prejudiced chitchat of looting, candidacy, and polity, tempers are flying and there is a random grumble as to why the exercise is taking so long. Someone swears that although it’s only midday, he has received report of many a polling unit that have successfully completed the voting exercise. An argument begins.

In the voting room, JJ’s petite frame is hunched over a printed volume filled with photos and biodata. A voter emerges from the voting booth and exits the room. JJ looks out through the window and sighs.

‘Aziza, how far?’
Aziza scoffs. ‘I swear, this thing just dey stress me since.’
‘Let me see.’

Aziza hands JJ the card reader and tuts. ‘I wonder what else could possibly go wrong today.’
‘That thing no work, I don tell you.’ Policarp says, ‘Mek una manage the one wey dey work.’ His long sinewy hands strewn with dozens of veins rocks a wooden chair back and forth.

‘The work is slow.’
‘Slow? Who no fit wait, mek im dey go house.’
There is commotion outside about who to go in next. Policarp heads for the door and bellows.
JJ trifles with the card reader and Aziza throws her head back in frustration.

They don’t hear the hairy barrel-chested man push aside the makeshift blockade at the emergency entrance and stalk in. He sets his gaze on an unused ballot booklet lying in front of JJ on the table. He addresses JJ dryly.
‘P.O. gimme that ballot booklet and one card reader.’

Startled, JJ looks up from the broken card reader. She squints to read off the man’s tag hanging off his chest.
‘These are official materials sir. Besides, a card reader is useless if you don’t—’
The man reaches into his pocket and produces a pouch full of voters’ cards. JJ purses her lips.
‘I’m afraid I can’t help you sir.’

Viper scoffs and whips out a wad of currency from another pocket. JJ grits her jaws.
‘You need to leave now sir. Right away!’
The man glares malevolently, then stalks out, muttering under his breath. Policarp turns in time to see the blockade being kicked aside. JJ and Aziza exchange grim looks.

*

The night before, several young people lay on sleeping mats in the dimly lit Central hall of Uyode secondary school, a couple of miles from Polling Unit 25B. The atmosphere sizzles silently with tension, and each person can barely wait for day to break. JJ sits in the far corner of the hall, bunched up on her sleeping mat, phone pressed to her ear and a scowl on her face.

‘… isn’t the time to play superhero. The election terrain is far more dangerous now. These politicians are willing to cut—’
JJ rolls her eyes. ‘Mama, this isn’t my first outing. I know how these things are. Besides, you know why I’m doing this. At least, encourage me some.’
‘Encourage you? Isn’t that’s what your father did? Where is he now? Eh? …God!’—crack—‘what did I ever do to deserve’—sniff—‘stubborn children.’

JJ grits her jaw. ‘Mama, he was a law enforcement officer. I’m only presiding over an election for crissakes!’
Mama sneezes. ‘Not even for your child’s sake or your sick mother. Whatever, just go with your—what is it called, in case of any of episodes. God be with you, that’s all I will say.’ Mama’s voice fades into inaudible mumbles.

JJ sighs. ‘I’ll be fine mama, promise. Let me talk to my baby.’
A toddler’s vigorous chatter comes into focus. Tears pool in JJ’s eyes.

*

On the dimly lit corridor of the hall, Policarp rounds off a call and heads back to the hall. He responds to his greeters with a curt nod. Aziza runs into him at the doorway.

‘You sef no fit sleep abi?’ Aziza chuckles.
Policarp smirks. ‘I say mek I collet small breez for awside.’
‘Guy, my body just dey do me one kain. I no fit wait mek this thing finish abeg.’

JJ emerges from the hall with an empty bucket and heads for the opposite doorway. She starts and glances behind her, then shakes her head on sighting Policarp and Aziza. She heads towards them.
‘You guys good? Looks like you can’t wait to get started.’ JJ says, a twinkle in her eyes.
Aziza scoffs. ‘You mean get it over with?’

They chuckle. Aziza joins in nervously.
‘It’s not rocket science na.’ JJ says, ‘Just breeze in, do what we do and breeze out. Like the LGA elections, eh?’
‘Omo, no be the same o.’ Policarp replies.

‘In other words, shit’s gotten real.’ Aziza says. ‘They even say this YYY party has some dreadful presence here. Truth to god, I don’t feel great about this.’ She flinches abruptly and jumps out of the path of a scurrying cockroach. Policarp kicks the cockroach into the night.
‘Last last, e nor get who nor dey fear. Even person wey wan carry ballot box dey fear. But we too, we gats do the right thing. Normal normal. Stay clean, stay out of trouble. Mek everybody go im papa house.’ He looks to JJ for approval.

‘Word,’ JJ replies, swinging her bucket this way and that. ‘Evil will always bow to the good if we do the right thing.’
‘You and this your grammar ehn.’ Policarp shakes his head.
‘Still doesn’t address the issue I raised though. YYY.’ Aziza says, still squirmish from the cockroach encounter.

Policarp tuts. ‘Guy I say nothing dey happen. If na cutlass levels, I full grand. That year wey I be PO for Bantu, if you see as dem rush me, dem reach twenty.’ Policarp jabs into the air animatedly. ‘Only me o, I tackle their papa.’
JJ chuckles. ‘Don’t mind him. Honestly, we all feel concerned about the whole thing, Aziza. But I spoke to one of the coordinators and she said at least a dozen policemen will be present. Our safety is assured. We just need to protect the votes, that’s all. I can count on you eh? Policarp? Aziza?’

Policarp’s phone rings. He bumps fists with JJ before stepping away to attend his phone.
‘Aziza?’
Aziza exhales.

Story by
Tobi Abraham
Naomi Mbakwe

Written by
Tobi Abraham

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

© Tobi Abraham 2022.

I wrote this as a movie script but my producers couldn't get it out on time.
So I'm releasing it in prose form starting today.
It's an inspiration tale that will keep you on the edge of your seats!

Leggo!

Time to carry calculator...

Ahahn. HOw many minutes of extra time ke?

Lalewrites:
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• The rate will always depend on the word count, deadline and complexity.
• STRICTLY PAYMENT FIRST (50% DP)
• 1 FREE REVISION!

Yo I need a newspaper article for a court case. Can you do it?

Do you write essays?

Is that Lingard I see in NFO? This life ehn...

Clearly many of you are juveniles. Judging a situation from one misinformed standpoint.
May you not end up in a positions of influence and have to deal with situations like these.
All of you saying he knows who attacked and killed his men and is saying nothing have only confirmed that you'll still disbelieve even if he mentions the names.
Let's learn to be objective when adjudging situations.

Meister:
You never collect your refund ?

The delivery date is past

Guys, I ordered an item in May. It was originally labelled LP but changed to UZ along the line.
This item has been said to have arrived Nigeria since June. I've checked and checked the post office. I didn't get any call, my details were correctly written.
Still Can't find it. I don't know what to do.

Oya. Time for motivation quotes.

Video was 'created'. It's not real.

I'm estimating each slab to cost around 170M. Is that how lucrative drug dealing is

Moneyboyz:
Because it's fact, I have some cheap ones about 30 to 50 USD, they hang a lot even though it's 4/64gb. There is a difference.

Okay. What is the price?

Moneyboyz:
The difference between Samsung s22 and a Tecno Cannon.

Are you saying this because you're selling or because its a matter of fact?

Moneyboyz:
If you are in Lagos I have the highest quality Android TV box you will ever find.
It's BuzzTV X5 128i Android 11 IPTV brand new boxed.
Bought from Slovakia 191euro. Cheap Android TV box hangs.

I have others with Linux operating system too.
For sale only Lagos and Ogun.

What's special about it?

GloriousGbola:
The mkv you downloaded are probably x265 format. TVs have been able to play basic x264 mkv for the past 6 or 7 years. If you your downloaded mp4 is x265 you will have the same problem.

As stated an android box will solve the problem.

What android TV box do you suggest please?

Please help suggest a functional and affordable android TV box for use with LED TV.

Opinions on RAM, processor speed, make, functionality, and place of purchase are also welcome.

I really feel sorry for the guy

Soso990240:
Hazard terrorised England, what is he doing now in spain? watching from the Bench. Fabregas Brutalised England with passes and assist in England, was he any better in Barcelona? Players dont just flop because of the league, its because of ur club pattern of Play and ur teammates character towards u, both inside and outside the field. De bryne flopped in Chelsea, then Pep brought him back from Germany and d guy has been fire ever since. If he had flopped in Man city, people like u will say that he did well in wolfsburg because Bundles Liga is a weak league. What about Lukaku? man was on fire in Everton, was on fire in Wesbrom, then did same in Italy, now he is flopping in Chelsea. what about Salah? he flopped in Chelsea, but now is King in Liverpool.. bro, its not about the league most of the time, its d club, coach and players.

Be like the influence of department and supervisor on your project

openmine:
I always knew that the mancity fans will make excuses for their loss to LFC

The latest hilarious excuses from mancity fans close to me...

'Debryne did not start'
'ATM players fought with Mancity players for 5hours hence they were exhausted'
'ATM fans blocked and stoned the mancity bus hence the players were psychologically down'
'If mancity had extra 15mins they would have equalized'
'LFC was lucky because the team they played were the second squad of mancity'

Abeg if una get excuses from other mancity fans close to you,feel free air them...

The sun was in Steffan's face, so he didn't see Mane coming

How is that a card against fabinho

Deal with the cause, not the effects.
What is the cause of your addiction?
Is it idleness? Failure? Fear?
Find this & deal with it.

And yes, Jesus can help you, because I'm afraid your willpower will not be sufficient to help you. Simply call on him with all your heart and he will answer you.

Submit to an accountability partner too

Princedapace:
The problem is not them. U can't gather players from different leagues and put them under two weeks preparation or one month preparation and expect result.
To build a competent national team, u need a strong local league so that u can blend ur national team with few foreign players.
More of ur players need to come from same league

I agree. Also, Team chemistry is something that is present in leagues but missing in the national team.

See them...
Na the kain thing wey dem like to hear be dat.

Meanwhile, for every one pastor who commits sexual immorality, there are 10 others who live uprightly for God. Focus on what makes you stronger and stop the bigotry.

adewaleadeyemi8:
i am getting married in 2 weeks time and honestly i am already thinking of all the drama i am currently facing if this is what i will be facing till forever

No fears bro. You'll make it.
Why don't you watch this helpful series? You'll find a lot of valuable tips.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpxxPAp1X9A

DonroxyII:
Lol, I no dey charge nor collect money. How I wish the entire world can be full of Blissfulness without Issues but they say that's for Heaven ...

Oya assignment for you as I don help you wellwell:

Focus Your Brain Moderately overtime on how to Satisfy Your Wife and Let your wonderful Brain take you through the world in search for answers:

You can use the above tip for anything:

I for teach you but I no wan too spoil You, You be Man Na ... Oya enter Bush carry Antelope come home Na!

salute!

Offpoint1:
you'll be disappointed

I won't. I promise.
And I can give you updates if you want...