The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has urged Nigerian youths in Anambra state to elect trustworthy leaders in the 2023 general elections.
INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, stated this at the Commission’s Zonal engagement with identified Youth groups on the role of youths ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Mr. Okoye, who is also in charge of South-East Zone, explained that Youth Engagement Programme was part of the Commission’s fourteen-point election scheduled programmes designed to ensure youth consciousness and inclusiveness in the electoral process, describing them as a formidable force for democracy.
Mr. Okoye noted that over 1.4million ad-hoc election staff have been engaged by the Commission for the conduct of the 2023 general election and INEC had secured an insurance policy for them against hazards of the election, if there be a possible attack.
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He warned that punishment for act of electoral offence against electoral officers has been made stiffer in the current 2022 Electoral Act as amended, than the provisions in the previous 2010 Electoral Act as amended.
He, therefore, advised any ad-hoc staff who might not be ready to resist the temptations of election rigging antics to withdraw from the exercise stressing that the 2023 electoral processes would be strictly technology-driven.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Anambra state, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, while emphasizing on the importance of the youth engagement programme, regretted that some of the Nigerian Youths are being used by unscrupulous elements who see them as mere tools to be manipulated for their selfish agenda during electioneering period and highlighted the inherent dangers of such activities.
In her Goodwill Message, the NYSC state coordinator, Mrs. Blessing Iruma, through her representative reaffirmed their readiness to partner with INEC for the successful conduct of the election but called for adequate transportation, security and improved welfare for corps members during their election duties.
