NYCN issues stern warning to politicians plotting electoral manipulation, launches grassroots campaign to mobilise young voters across five states
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), South-East Zone, has issued a powerful warning to politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that the era of electoral manipulation and incompetent leadership in the region is over.
Speaking during a press briefing in Enugu on Monday, the NYCN South-East Vice-President, Dr Atigwe Ifeanyi, called on youths across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states to arm themselves with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and reject leaders who have failed to deliver good governance.
“The era where politicians rely on electoral manipulation, intimidation, inducement or rigging to secure political power must come to an end,” Ifeanyi declared. “Today, we are saying clearly that the people are watching and the youths are also watching, as the era of taking the people’s mandate for granted is over.”
Drawing lessons from the recent Osun governorship election, Ifeanyi commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and praised President Bola Tinubu for allowing democratic institutions to function without undue interference from the Presidency.
He warned politicians eyeing elective positions to present their scorecards to the electorate, allowing voters to assess their performance based on competence, character and track record rather than party affiliation or sentiments.
“Every politician seeking public office must present his or her scorecard before the electorate. Let the people examine what you have achieved, what you have failed to achieve, and what you intend to do differently,” he said.
The NYCN leader announced the launch of a grassroots advocacy campaign tagged “Operation Use Your PVC Well” to educate young voters on their political rights and responsibilities.
“Your PVC is not merely a card. It is your instrument of political participation and power to change bad leadership and enthrone good leadership,” Ifeanyi emphasised.
He urged youths to be bold enough to vote out non-performing leaders and vote in candidates with demonstrable records of better performance and genuine commitment to public service, security, economic opportunities and infrastructure development.
Ifeanyi also called on INEC to strengthen its processes, technology, transparency and institutional independence ahead of the 2027 polls, warning politicians planning to rig elections to reconsider their ambitions.
“Any political leader whose strategy for achieving power depends on rigging or subverting the will of the electorate should reconsider such a political ambition,” he said.
The NYCN stressed that youths would resist electoral malpractice through lawful democratic participation, not violence.
“Our resistance will be through our PVCs, our civic participation, lawful advocacy and our collective votes,” Ifeanyi stated.
The council also urged the South-East Development Commission to focus on infrastructure renewal, economic empowerment, reconstruction and sustainable development in the region.
“We must move from politics of sentiments to politics of performance; from politics of personality to politics of competence; and from politics of promises to politics of measurable results,” Ifeanyi concluded.
