The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) has emphasised the need to involve the youths as voter education agents for the 2015 general elections.
Mrs Gesila Khan, Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC in Delta State made the call in Asaba recently at the inauguration of the Delta Chapter of the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) Coordinators in the state.
She said that INEC would be willing to work with the council and other youth organisations to ensure free and fair elections come 2015.
According to her, the council’s slogan “My Vote Must Count, My Vote is my Right” is in line with the objectives of INEC.
Khan urged the people to see voter education as a holistic affair and not the responsibility of INEC alone.
“I, therefore, charge you as critical stakeholders in the electoral process to begin to prepare for 2015 elections.
“There is the need for the stakeholders in the electoral process to begin to re-tune their mindset from treating voter education as the exclusive duty of INEC to being collaborators and voter education agents,” she said.
The REC also urged them not to allow themselves to be used as tools for violence during elections.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), Mr Moses Ogbe, said the youths were future leaders and engine of development in the society.
Ogbe represented by Mr Fredrick Ulakpa, DSIEC Commissioner, Administration and Human Resources, urged the organisation not to get involved in unwholesome practice.
He called for adequate training of the youth on election matters to enable them understand their roles during elections.
The CYC Ambassador, Mr Uyero Erarawewho said the objective of the association was to ensure youths’ participation in decision making and good governance.
