2023: INEC will disenfranchise tens of millions of youths – LP raises alarm

With lower than two months to the 2023 basic election, the Labour Occasion has accused the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee, INEC, of plans to disenfranchise a bigger inhabitants of the Nigerian youths.

The occasion hinged its declare on the January 20 deadline set by the INEC for the gathering of Everlasting Voters’ Playing cards, PVCs.

It mentioned the timeframe was completely in opposition to tens of millions of Nigerians youths who simply returned to their numerous universities after the extended strike by the Tutorial Workers Union of Universities, ASUU.

Chief Sunday Harmless Okeke, Labour Occasion Nationwide Vice Chairman, South East, made these observations in a press release made accessible to DAILY POST.

He recalled that the face-off between the Federal Authorities and the noticed the youths staying at dwelling when voter’s registration was happening.

“Now the scholars are again to high school and lots of removed from their properties and subsequently are busy and engaged to satisfy with their educational losses and INEC is insisting on the January 22, 2023 deadline for the gathering of the PVC.

“The query, subsequently is, what occurs to the scholars that registered and at the moment are at school and this constitutes the bigger chunk of voters and will not be capable of go away faculty to make the gathering date?

“The college educational system has already been injured. It is going to be sensible for INEC, ASUU and different related our bodies to declare one week of obligatory vacation for college students to go dwelling and gather their PVCs and the identical vacation on the week of the election, in order that they are going to be a part of this wanted change,” he acknowledged.

The LP Chieftain additional famous that “the longer term lies with the youth and the youth of our nation have to be inspired, together with making crucial sacrifices for them to actively take part within the election.

“The majority of the PVCs mendacity uncollected are that of the scholars who registered whereas at dwelling throughout eight unproductive months of the strike. I additionally urge INEC to increase the deadline for PVC assortment to every week earlier than the deadline.

“Nigeria has a historical past to make and everybody ought to be inspired to participate on this historical past making.

“Whereas admitting that INEC is doing its finest in handing over probably the most credible elections to Nigeria and condemning each act of distraction and harassment on the INEC Chairman and his commissioners, I ask INEC to maintain listening to the voice of the lots and conduct credible elections.”