The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says that the youths have the numerical potential to drive the electoral process and decide election contests.
National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye disclosed this at a workshop in Awka, Anambra State, with the theme, “Zonal engagement with youth focused groups ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Barrister Okoye added that the youth population constitutes the greatest number of registered voters for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
He explained that analysis of registered voters from June 28, 2021, to July 31, 2022 indicated the dominance of young voters.
He said, “Nigeria is a country with a growing youth population. Of the more than 9.5million Nigerians who completed their registration process, 7.28million or 76 percent of the new registrants who are within 18 to 34 years of age are young people.
“Similarly, the youth constitute 51 percent of the 84million Nigerians who registered for 2019 general elections. The young men and women with these statistics constitute a critical mass whose participation in public life vis-a-vis electoral space cannot be ignored.
“Since the demography of Nigeria has changed, and the youths constitute a formidable block of this demography, engaged and conscious youths must assist others shed puritanical approach and disposition to national issues and become more focused”.
Election Violence
He regretted that some youths are involved in election violence and election related malfeasance, insisting that election violence comes with a great socio-economic and political cost to the nation, as well as to the lives and future of youths.
Okoye also revealed that the Commission has devolved PVC collection to the 8,809 registration areas/electoral wards throughout the federation, assuring that validly registered voters were encouraged to collect their PVCs.
He warned that youths must on no account succumb to the antics of mischief makers and fifth columnists canvassing that registered voters should not bother to collect their cards and that they can vote on election day without their voters card
He further disclosed that the Commission did not print the PVCs of those that engaged in double or multiple registration, adding that however, such individuals can still vote using their valid and substituting PVCs.
Electoral Process
The Commissioner also said that the 2023 general election will be technology driven, since the current electoral Act 2022 has concretely and comprehensively domiciled the use of technology in the electoral process.
“The debate on whether the Commission will use and deploy technology in the electoral process is a spent debate and should be consigned to the dustbin of history.
“Let me also emphasize that the use of the. Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), for the accreditation of voters is mandatory. The Commission does not have a discretion on the issue”, Okoye noted.
Earlier, Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu described youths as a vibrant and industrious citizens who will play important roles during the general elections period.
She urged the youths to wake up and take their respective positions in the nation’s affairs, reminding them that they form a reasonable population waiting to be harnessed for development of Nigeria.
She further said that the outcome of the 2023 general election would be determined by the youth, and urged them to defend their communities.
N.O
