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The Resident
Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) in Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Danyaya has urged Nigerian youth
to be in the forefront of promoting credible and violence-free
electoral process in the country.

Mr Danyaya, who
spoke in Kano over the weekend, at a training workshop on voter’s
education, organized by the International Republican Institute, in
conjunction with Basketball for Peace, said the Nigerian youth are the
panacea to electoral irregularities that have characterized the
nation’s electoral process, pointing out that their role in the next
general elections could make or mar the exercise. “The youth can
determine the outcome of a credible elections, and should therefore not
allow self-seeking politicians to use them as agents of violence,” he
said, adding it is now time for them to rise up to their responsibility
as leaders of tomorrow.

Preparations for the polls

On the preparations
for the forth coming elections, Mr Danyaya said about 24,222 ad-hoc
staff would be recruited to handle the elections in the state. He
expressed optimism that the elections would be free, fair and credible.
The Resident Country Director of the institute, represented by Yinka
Lawal, said the essence of the workshop is to enlighten Nigerians youth
on the inherent danger in electoral violence, which he noted should be
discarded by the youth. He noted that the electoral system is
confronted with a multiplicity of problems, pointing out that the youth
can help change the system for the better. He urged them not to be
indifferent towards political activities, but participate actively so
as to map out a nation of their dream.

The Kano State Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP),
Faruk Iya, debunked allegations that all politicians in the country
engage youth in political thuggery. “I am a politician, but there is no
way I can use my money to sponsor youth to carry out violent activities
for me to actualize my ambition,” he said. “The youth themselves must
resist anyone who wants to use them for any ulterior motive.”