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Despite the signing of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 31st of May, 2018, Nigeria’s political space is still dominated by the old generation and god-fathers.
These old guards determine who gets what and favour their cronies to the detriment of many young Nigerians, that are willing to participate in politics.
To address this, the Stakeholders Development Network (SDN), in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some On-Air personalities, intensified Continuous Voter Registration campaign in some communities in Rivers State.
The sensitisation campaign, tagged Equal Naija, is aimed at boosting voters registration and turnout in the country.
Speaking with newsmen, the Project Officer of SDN, Flora Asiari emphasised that participation of youths, women and persons with disabilities in the electoral processes, is as important as participating in national development activities.
Representatives of INEC urged residents of the state, who are yet to register or get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to use the opportunity of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to get registered.
They also called on those who registered, but abandoned their PVCs with INEC to endeavour to collect them.
Some residents who spoke with newsmen said Nigerians must shun voting apathy and participate fully in elections, so that the country’s democracy can grow.
The group urged Nigerians, especially the youth not to just campaign on social media, but participate actively in the electioneering process, as INEC does not conduct elections on social media, nor count ballots on Twitter and Instagram.
-INTERVIEWS-
Flora Asiari- Project Officer of SDN,
- Ngozi Ujadi – Head of Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Rivers State
- Queen Ikoku – Youth Sensitisation, INEC Rivers State
- Adigun Olayinka – CVR Campaign Ambassador
- Ibinabo – CVR Campaign Ambassador
