By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
Efforts at getting youths involved in the electoral process ahead of the 2023 General elections have intensified as stakeholders are doing their bit to ensure this.
The most recent is the collaboration between the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the European Union, EU to get youths to register for PVC and actually come out to vote on election day.
At a press briefing ahead of the “Youth Vote Count” Mega Concert 2.O, in Abuja, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, said INEC has deployed 50 machines and 150 personnel for the programme.
He said the essence of the programme is to mobilise, sensitise, and educate the people on the need to get involved in the electoral process.
The EU Programme Manager, Political Governance and Democracy Section, Laolu Olawumi, said the European Union has been a major partner of the Nigerian government since 1999 and the programme is meant to communicate to youths using pop culture for easy understanding and assimilation.
She emphasised that the programme is not partisan as it is not meant to support any party or candidate but to engage youths and encourage them to get involved in the electoral process.
According to her, there is need for sustained engagement of youths in Nigeria which should not end with just getting their PVCs.
Other speakers, including INEC’s Director Voter Education and Publicity, Ayodele Aluko, Samson Itodo of YIAGA Africa and the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Rotimi Oyekanmi, urged youths to work towards changing the narrative by taking action away from social media.
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