As controversy continues to trail the outcome of the 2023 Presidential Election, Nigerian youths have appealed to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to prevail on the federal government to reconsider the election results.
The youths who said they were not satisfied with the result of the election stormed the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday, where they handed over their protest letter to the African regional body.
They protested the manner in which the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conducted the 2023 presidential poll, while insisting that it breached the constitution, Electoral Act 2022 and INEC Guidelines for the election.
The youths under the Free Nigeria Movement called on the international community, particularly ECOWAS, to prevail on the Nigerian government to reconsider the controversies around the election.
A spokesperson for the youths said, “Our country needs healing. It will be counterproductive to allow a fraudulent process to subsist as fraud will eternally birth fraud. We cannot grow our democracy on falsehood and suspicion. The holes in our national fabric must be woven shut.
“One way is to immediately establish a Truth and Reconciliation Committee in Lagos State and other flashpoints of voter intimidation and violence during the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections. This will help build trust, confidence and further ethnic cooperation among Nigerians.
“As concerned citizens, we believe that our country is destined for greatness and are hopeful that in no distant time, our faith will nudge our dreams to reality. This is our prayer as we nurse the bruises of hope.
“For though they force us to the precipice, we will not curse our country or stand by those who curse it. We will not steal from our country whatever treasures it possesses in dignity. We will hold on to the promise of unity and faith, peace and progress,” he stated.
The ECOWAS director of Administration and General Services, who received the protest letter, commended the youths for conducting themselves peacefully and promised to forward the letter to the appropriate quarters for onward action.
