Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said if Nigerian youth would come out en masse to cast their votes, the country will no longer be recording 15 or 20 percent voter turnout during elections.
INEC stated this just as it cautioned youth that the commission does not conduct an election on social media neither do they count ballots on Twitter or Instagram.
The commission also expressed worry over the 20 million permanent voters’ cards still lying unclaimed in its vault, while decrying the poor participation of citizens in the ongoing continuous voters’ registration exercise.
INEC’s Deputy Director, Voter Education, Mrs Mary Nkem, stated this at the launch of the PVC Bus Drive project, organised by a non-governmental organisation, the Advocacy for Civic Engagement, in Abuja on Wednesday.
She, therefore, urged Nigerians, especially the youth demography to be actively involved in the process of electing new leaders that will effect true change and move the country forward.
The Commission said, “This CVR exercise began on the 30th of June, 2021, but we have discovered that between that time and a few weeks ago, the turnout has been relatively low.
“If the youths in this country would come out en masse to cast their votes, we will no longer be recording 15 or 20 percent voter turnout in our elections, because we know that the population of the youths alone can make a difference.
“The youths no longer visit the social media, they basically live there today. Therefore, when you want to reach out to them, you must go to where you will meet them – social media.
“However, I will like to say that INEC does not conduct an election on social media neither do we count ballots on Twitter or Instagram.
“Our ballots are counted in the ballot box. It is only the ballot paper that enters into the ballot box that the Commission counts.
“So, what does that mean? It means that on election day people must go out to cast their votes. For you to be able to do so, you must be a registered voter and in possession of a PVC.”