Muhammad Habib
A group of participants on the review of 2023 election has advocated for unbundling of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enhance it’s effectiveness and strategic partnerships.
The recommendations were harmonious agreed by the participants during the North-west Youth Forum on Electoral Reform, organized by J-Dev foundation in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute and the National Endowment for Democracy in Sokoto.
Participants stressed that the commission needed more proactive measures that would increase it’s departmental dependency and other performance.
In her address, J-Dev foundation Programme Officer, Mrs Sophie Akut, described youths as pillars of Nigerian democracy considering that they constitute larger percentage of Nigerian voters.
Akut noted that the objective of the forum was to identify challenges experienced during 2023 elections and proffer solutions through engagements with relevant stakeholders.
She maintained that the responses and suggestions gathered during the forum will be taken to relevant authorities to put into consideration stating that similar engagement is taking place in other geopolitical zones of the country.
Speaking also, the Sokoto state Coordinator of the Programme, Yusuf Ladan, said that the forum served as avenue to gather views from youths on how to improve the electoral system in Nigeria ahead of 2027 general election.
Ladan expressed dismayed over non friendly political atmosphere for youths in the country.
The Kebbi state Coordinator, Mrs Hauwa Musa, expressed delight with the engagement of youths in the current political cycle.
Musa frowned at how elderly politicians took over the political space while depriving the youths the chance to make impact.
In his contribution, the Zamfara state Coordinator, Dr. Anas Sanusi, commended the supporters of the forum that identified and gathered stakeholders including the INEC officials, Security personnels, Politicians, voters as well as the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media.
Sanusi described the gathering as timely in view of the importance of issues discussed noting that corruption is one of the major problems hindering free, fair and credible elections in the country.
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