ANAMBRA: INEC ENCOURAGES YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN 2023 POLLS
REPORTER: KEVIN EKEDIEGWU
INEC says seventy 6.5% of people who registered between June 28, 2021 to July 31, 2022 are youths.
The INEC National Commissioner, Information and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, stated this during an “engagement with identified youth groups on the role of youths ahead of 2023 general election held in Awka, Anambra State.
He said the nation’s youthful population underscored the imperative of integrating their matters into the national consciousness to optimize their contribution in all spheres of development of the country.
Mr. Okoye expressed worry that some youths were often used by unscrupulous elements in the society to advance their selfish agenda during electioneering.
The National Commissioner advised youths not to mortgage their future on the altar of the ambition of some individuals.
He explained that the Commission had devolved Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) collection to 8,809 registration areas throughout the federation.
The INEC spokesman pointed out that the 2023 general election would be technology driven.
In a remark, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, described youths as vibrant, virile, industrious, productive and patriotic to national issues.
She was of the view that the “Not Too Young To Run” bill had opened windows of opportunity for youths to participate actively in the 2023 general election in the country.
One of the youth, Mr. Emeka Afam, described the event as timely and an eye opener.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
