By Akinwale Kasali
The Prof. Mahmood Yakubu – led Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has pledged that the 2023 Election will be all inclusive, with the electoral umpire not leaving anyone out in the electoral process. In view of this, INEC, in conjunction with European Union and Yiaga Africa has commenced the Second Series of “Youth Vote Count Mega Concert.”
The initiative which is targeted at encouraging youths to troop out in large numbers and register for the Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, in order to exercise their franchise as the 2023 Election gathers momentum.
INEC has made available over 50 Machines for Voters’ Registration at the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos, for those who want to register newly for their PVCs, those seeking transfer to another State and those that have damaged or lost their PVCs.
The Lagos State INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, said that the initiative is targeted at encouraging youths to register for their PVCs, by organizing a Mega Concert where A -List Artistes, Musicians will be brought to thrill the crowds after the week long exercise.
Agbaje said that the Youths make the large chunk of voters, and it is necessary to engage them and change the orientation and mindset they have that there votes don’t count.
“INEC will not extend the Voters Registration Exercise when it elapse by June 30th, this is an opportunity for Youths to come and register for their PVCs. This week long exercise in TBS, Lagos is made possible by European Union and Yiaga Africa, who are out major partners in this sensitization and awareness campaign exercise, as we are opened here from Monday, June 6th to June 11th, 2022, where we are going to have a Mega Concert, with top Musicians coming to thrill the crowd. Your PVCs and Temporary Voters Card, TVC, will the gate pass for you to have access to see this stars and have fun from 2pm-6pm on Saturday”, he said.
Laolu Olawunmi, Programme Manager, European Union, said that INEC commitment to inclusiveness and transparency has made the EU to collaborate with the commission, and that the Youth Vote Count Initiative is a non partisan campaign for youths to participate in the electoral process.
Olawunmi stressed that there is need for Nigerian youths to get involved in the policy making of the nation and choose the leaders they want to rule them by getting their PVCs and bring an end to the voters apathy the nation has been witnessing in previous elections.
“This initiative will give every Nigerian youth a voice, as this is a platform where the youths will mobilize and engage the center of authorities”.
Yiaga Africa Executive Director, Stanley Itodo, said that the initiative was launched in 2018 and it was held in Six geopolitical Universities in Nigeria, which was a flagship program by the EU, and the decision to start the Second series in Lagos was because the huge population of youth is in Lagos and been the commercial hub of the nation.
Itodo added that Youths needs to come out in large numbers to get their PVCs and decided their future, rather than sitting back and complaining.
He said the Mega Concert will see the likes of MI Abaga, Kiss Daniel, 2Face Idibia, Teni, Omawunmi, Pasuma, Small Doctor, Mayokun and a lot of Nollywood Stars coming to sensitize the youths on the need of having their PVCs and to have fun to the senerous lyrics of their idols.
Lending his voice, the Executive Director of International Press Center, IPC, Lanre Arogundade, said the initiative was apt and with the youths coming out to get their PVCs, it will give an effective answer to some cynical questions that Nigerian youths are not politically inclined, and it will further give the youths the power to decide who they want to rule them.
