Business
Inconclusive Polls Take Toll On Businesses In PH

2nd L-R: Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Managing Director, Salini Construction Company, Dr Piero Capitanio and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, during the inauguration of Gurara Irrigation Project at Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, recently.
Following the inconclusive Presidential and National Assembly elections in parts of Rivers State, eligible voters who travelled to their local government areas are yet to return.
Investigations carried out by our correspondent at some of the motor parks across the state revealed that food vendors and hawkers are the most hit by the development.
At the Abali Model Park near Isaac Boro Park, a food vendor, Mrs Uduak Sunday who spoke to our correspondent said the reduced influx of passengers to and from the park affected her business negatively between Saturday and Sunday.
Another howker who gave his name as Big Brother said “In fact, I started feeling lack of business two days to the election day.”
According to him, people travelled out beginning from Thursday last week.
Big Brother explained that the development made him to return the items he used to hawk to his supplier as he was not sure to sell them off before the election.
At the Mile III Motor Park, the story was the same as the number of food vendors and hawkers was minimal according to The Tide’s findings.
One of the food vendors who spoke to our correspondent said the development forced her to reduce the food items she prepares.
According to the food vendors, she was acting on the experience she had on election day.
She explained further that on the election day proper, she cooked more than she could sell off as customers were not forthcoming.
Also narrating their ordeal, some transporters at some of the motor parks in Rumuokoro, Mile I and Abali park expressed the hope that the presidential elections end successfully Sunday to enable them resume fully.
One of them who has his name as Boniface Njoku at the Mile III Park said for those of them whose only means of livelihood was transportation business, the development has taken a toll on their finances even as he said most drivers do not own their vehicles as they make return daily.