By: Mercy Peter
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Tuesday in far away The Gambia urged African youths not to lose faith in democratic process or or withdraw from civic engagement.
Yakubu stressed that the youth have to play an active role in ensuring peaceful and credible elections across the continent.
Yakubu made the call during a lecture at the Civil Service University in The Gambia, according to a statement by the commission on Wednesday.
He addressed students of International Affairs and Diplomacy, as well as Peace and Conflict Studies, on the topic, “Democracy and Peaceful Elections in West Africa.”
He said: “This is the system we have chosen. It is ours to nurture, defend, and improve. Every young African must play a role in deepening and strengthening democratic institutions.”
He emphasised the importance of youth in the electoral processes, saying that elections in Africa cannot succeed without youth participation. “Young people form the backbone of election duty staff,” he said, pointing out that Election Management Bodies (EMBs) lack the manpower to conduct elections without recruiting youths as temporary or ad hoc staff.
Besides, Yakubu reminded his guest that youths also make up the largest segment of the voting population. His words: “Before the elections, they are involved in voter registration, one of the most critical stages of the electoral cycle. It is a duty that must be undertaken with sincerity, patriotism, and a sense of responsibility.”
Yakubu therefore urged the youths to be upright and law-abiding. He said: “If you want peaceful elections, play your part for God and country. Do the right thing. Obey the laws and regulations. That’s how we make every vote count.”
He also drew attention to the role of youths as political party agents, cautioning against misrepresenting facts or feeding political stakeholders with false information which, he warned, could trigger violence and undermine public trust in the process.
Prof. Yakubu also warned against the spread of fake news, particularly during election periods.
“Don’t be among the fake news merchants. If it’s not verified, don’t share it. As citizen reporters, you have a duty to report elections truthfully and responsibly,” he said.
