2027 Elections: South-East Youths Vow to Reject Incompetent Leaders
By: Abudu Olalekan
The National Youth Council of Nigeria, South-East Zone has warned politicians against mucking up the electoral system ahead of the 2027 elections.
It urged youths in the south-east to get their permanent voter cards, protect them and utilise the card to vote against leaders who have failed the nation.
The NYCN south-east Vice President Dr Atigwe Ifeanyi said this on Monday while briefing newsmen in Enugu on lessons from the recent Osun governor election and the council’s position ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged youths in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states to rally behind credible candidates based on qualification, integrity and competency, and not on political affiliations and sentiments.
Dr. Ifeanyi noted the importance of free and fair elections for sustainable development in Osun state.
“The Osun election is an eye-opener for a lot of people on the need to allow free and fair elections for the people to choose their leaders without malpractices.
We are giving kudos to INEC for the tremendous job they did in Osun and we are also commending President Tinubu who has allowed things to happen without interference from the presidency.
However, politicians must know that the era of manipulation and buying of election results, voter intimidation and rigging to reach power must stop.
Today, people and youths especially are watching and we shall not allow the people’s mandate to be reversed,” he said.
The NYCN leader charged politicians aspiring to public offices to put their scorecard before the people for them to assess and voted based on qualification, integrity and competency.
“Every politician must put his or her scorecard before the nation so that the people can decide whether or not to vote for them based on what they have done, what they have failed to do and what they intend to do in the next term in office.
We are calling for a total ban of politicians from political offices unless they present their record, their achievements, challenges and vision for the nation and the state in particular.
Our youths must know that they have the power to vote people in and vote people out of office based on service delivery and leadership qualities,” he said.
Dr. Ifeanyi said the council would start sensitizing the youths on responsible citizenship in relation to the 2027 elections with an operation titled “Operation Use your PVC well”.
The NYCN leader noted that youths must vote based on what the politicians intend to do for the country rather than political parties.
“The youths must utilise their PVC to vote for leaders who will give them security, jobs, infrastructural development and good governance.
The youths must also refuse to be manipulated by political leaders and must vote against leaders who have failed the nation.
They must be bold enough to vote out leaders who have failed the nation at the polls and vote in those who have proven records of commitment and integrity in governance.
Our youths must move away from the politics of sentiments and emotions, to politics of competence and integrity, from politics of promises to politics of performance and from politics of personalities to politics of performance,” he urged.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put in place necessary measures to ensure transparency, functional machines and credible elections in 2027.
Dr. Ifeanyi noted that politicians who were determined to rig elections should rethink their actions because the youths will utilise every legal avenue to stop electoral malpractices.
“Any political leader who is thinking of rigging elections in 2027 should think seriously about his or her political future because the youths will utilise every legal means to stop the rigging from happening.
Our resistance to electoral fraud is through the PVCs, civic education and lawful political activism and not through violence.
They should know that youths will utilise their votes, peaceful protests and other legal avenues to stop electoral frauds from destroying the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NYCN called on the South East Development Commission to make infrastructure renewal, empowerment, reconstruction and development the agenda for accelerating sustainable development in the south east.
Dr. Ifeanyi remarked that youths must make the 2027 elections a people’s choice based on issues and not on personalities.
“Politics must be about addressing the needs of the people in terms of jobs, security, power, food and other necessities rather than selling the needs of the people for selfish gains and individual glory,” he said.
He added that youths were challenged to move away from the politics of sentiments and emotions, to politics of competence and integrity, from politics of promises to politics of performance and from politics of personalities to politics of performance.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
