You determine who wins in 2023, the electoral umpire says
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Youths and women account for over 75 per cent of registered voters, says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and it wants them to use their numbers to determine who wins Aso Rock and other offices in 2023 and beyond.
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu argued in Ilorin that if Nigerian youths and women unite they will easily be the kingmakers since they form the largest bloc vote of all demographics.
Yakubu, represented by Kwara Resident Electoral Commissioner Garuba Madami, spoke at a lecture titled, “The importance of PVC in the electoral process”, jointly organised by the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) and INEC.
“From the available data of INEC, over 75 per cent of registered voters are youths and women. They form the largest percentage in the statistics index of INEC.
“I encourage them to work together because they can conveniently win elections in 2023 if they can truly work together,” he said.
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No room for rigging
Yakubu allayed concerns about rigging, saying, “elections are more credible and transparent now unlike before, in view of the new technology that has been introduced into the electoral process.”
He warned against multiple registrations punishable with a N1 million fine, jail term or both upon conviction, and pleaded with political party leaders to encourage their members to transfer their registration to place of residence, per Vanguard reporting.
“Your Personal Voter’s Card (PVC), is your power, get your PVC now, and vote your conscience. Vote out bad leaders, you need to take back your country.”
MINILS Director General Issa Aremu reiterated that Nigerians in the last two decades have made the point that votes and vote counts are the desirable ways of ensuring good governance.
“Next year Nigeria is set for the seventh presidential election cycle. I commend INEC which, despite the imperfect political environment, is improving on the electoral process to make elections increasingly credible,” he said.
