PDP, APC youths call for credible elections in 2019
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) youths in Ebonyi state have called for transparent elections in 2019 general election.
The youths warned against manipulation and vowed to protect their votes in the elections.
They spoke in Abakaliki during a workshop organised by International Republican Institute (IRI) under United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Speaking at the programme, the state PDP Youth leader, Elder Sam Igwen noted that the party’s youths were ready for the election and would use every legitimate means to resist rigging.
“We are preparing and telling our youths to be conscious of security. Nobody can rig our election; we will go mad with anyone who attempts to rig our election.
We don’t rig election and people should not try it in Ebonyi. We are ready to defend our votes because our votes must count in this 2019.
“PDP believes in equity and justice. We won’t even allow foul play but we will allow the right thing. Any manipulation must be halted; we will not carry guns but we will use our hands to hold the culprits to make sure they don’t rob us of victory.
We are very ready for the election and we will defend this democracy in our country and the level of the jobs our government is doing in the state is speaking for us”, he said.
On his part, Deputy Chairman of APC, Dr. Jeff Ogbu said the youths, after the training will be equipped with pragmatic skills that will help them add value to all the parties across all the value chain.
He explained that the training will enable the party youths to understand the internal processes of party organs.
“We brought our youths here to get the skill that will help them in party administration and participate actively in next year’s general election”, he said.
Earlier, the state Coordinator of IRI, Ani Chukwueze said the young leadership political academy programme was designed to bring young people, the marginalized, the youths within the political party together to acquire necessary skills that will help in advancement of democracy in the country.
“It is quiet unfortunate that most of the youths don’t see themselves as having the right to participate in electoral process, but we are trying to make them have self confidence and equip them with the necessary knowledge that can help them better our democracy”.
