2019 – ‘Stop recruiting youths to perpetrate violence during elections’

Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Politicians across the country have been condemned for allegedly recruiting the youths to perpetrate violence during and after elections. The Forum of Executive Directors of Civil Society Organisations in Bauchi state who made the condemnation said that the youths are supposed to aid the electoral process. In a press statement jointly signed by the chairman and the financial secretary of the forum, Sodangi Chindo and John Abu, the forum noted that past elections in the Northeast region have seen the use of youths as elements of violence for nefarious and political gains by politicians. The Statement said that the forum noted with dismay how the increasing rate of poverty and shrinking economic state of the country have exposed many youths to the risk of being used as tools for violence in elections, adding that it is watching keenly to identify any group or politician engaged in such an act. “Research has shown that women are the mostly affected by election violence. Not only are they deprived of their right to exercise their franchise, they are also target for violence and intimidation. The forum condemns these acts the violence and intimidation of women during and after election, buy also call on security agencies and INEC to protect women and their votes” The statement read According to the statement, the forum commended the assent to the disability bill signed into law by President Buhari, pointing out that the disability act outlined the protection enjoyed by disable persons and criminalizes any form of discrimination towards them, including participation in elections. The forum then called on all political aspirants to have an inclusive manifesto, saying that Civil Society Organizations have been agitating for political aspirants to sign and commit themselves to issues of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH, education and good governance. They called on Nigerians to exercise their franchise in an orderly manner, free from rancour, adding that Nigerians must ensure that they guard their votes and not succumb to the temptation of selling their votes.