A group of Nigerian youths under the auspices of Gen Z For Good Governance has asked President Bola Tinubu to convey a town hall meeting with the nation’s youths before the appointment of a new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At a press conference in Abuja, the youths said that such meeting with the youths alongside with other relevant stakeholders would help the President made a right choice of the INEC helmsman.
Their call came hours before the immediate past Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday announced his decision to step down from office after 10 years of service.
He handed over to National Commissioner Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive successor.
Yakubu made the announcement during the third regular quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Two of the Gen Z who spoke on behalf of others; Joseph Agama and Virtue Utuk, said their request for a Gen Z Townhall meeting with President Tinubu was due to their patriotism and passion for Nigeria’s democratic and good governance development.
Agama noted: “Our passion for Nigeria burns deeply, perhaps more than any other generation before us. Some may find this surprising, given reports that suggest young Nigerians often withdraw from civic participation, especially voting.
“But we must speak the truth behind this reality: Our hesitation is not borne from apathy, but from a lack of trust in the electoral process and in the INEC.
“Regardless of our hesitation to engage the electoral process and our doubt in the independence of INEC, we are not a generation that sits idle and waits for things to happen.
“We are conscious and courageous. We ask hard questions, we seek real answers, and we act with bold conviction. Some may wonder: what do these young people really know about electoral credibility?”
He said that Gen Zs are informed, connected, and the most exposed in Nigeria’s history.
He said that with information at their fingertips, technology shaping their lives, and global conversations within their reach, they are empowered like never before.
Agama added: “In our search for solutions, we have studied reforms and proposals, including the Citizens’ Memorandum for Reform of the Electoral Legal Framework, which outlines 31 recommendations for change. At the heart of these reforms is one truth: INEC must be truly independent and professional if it is to inspire our trust in the electoral process.”
On her part, Utuk said that the appointment of the next INEC Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners cannot remain business as usual.
She said, “We demand a multi-stakeholder approach; one that involves not just the presidency, but also traditional and religious institutions, civil society, and the Nigerian people themselves.
“Mr. President, we are the present and future of Nigeria’s democracy. We want to believe in Nigeria. We want to trust the ballot. We want to play our part in building a nation where leadership truly reflects the will of the people.
“That is why we are requesting something historic: a Gen Z Townhall Meeting with you. Come and speak with us directly. Hear our ideas, our concerns, and our passion for Nigeria’s rebirth.”
Utuk said that the same fire that once stirred the nation’s fathers and mothers who fought for Nigeria’s independence burns brightly in Nigeria Gen Zs today and should be positively harnessed for Nigeria’s development and citizens wellbeing.