2027: Arewa Youth Forum pledges grassroots mobilisation for INEC

 

 

 

Youth

 

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

 

The Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) has pledged his full support to the Independent National Electoral Commission ((INEC), especially in area of Voter education and grassroots mobilisation for 2027 general election.

 

Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, quoted the Forum’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, making the pledged when he lead a delegation of the forum in a courtesy visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

 

Gujungu said that the AYF, which represents between two and three million youth in northern Nigeria and the FCT, would also mobilise its membership to respect electoral laws, reject fake news, report criminal elements, and actively protect the integrity of the voting process in the lead-up to 2027.

 

He commended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, for his leadership and the marked improvement in the conduct of recent elections, saying INEC deserves commendation, not condemnation.

 

Gujungu, who hailed the Commission’s growing record of transparent, peaceful and credible elections under Amupitan’s watch, also expressed the forum’s full support and active collaboration with INEC ahead of the 2027 general election.

 

“We stand before you today to commend the hard work of your leadership and the successes recorded in the recent elections held across the country.

 

“The improvement in logistics, timely deployment of materials, and adherence to election guidelines despite enormous challenges are commendable,” Alhaji Gujungu.

 

 

 

The AYF BOT Chairman specifically applauded INEC’s deployment of technology, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as a decisive step toward eliminating electoral fraud and ensuring that results reflect the true will of Nigerian voters.

 

He described the commission’s commitment to technology-driven elections as one of the most significant advances in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

 

 

 

Gujungu also addressed what he called a pattern of politically motivated attacks on the commission.

 

He said that the AYF had conducted tours across northern Nigeria and found that public confidence in INEC was being eroded by orchestrated misinformation rather than genuine operational failures.

 

 

 

“An independent electoral body must be judged on facts and evidence, not propaganda. AYF strongly rejects the politicisation of INEC, especially at this critical time in our national history,” he said.

 

He proposed two areas of the forum collaboration with the commission.

 

These according to him are a grassroots voter education campaign across northern Nigeria to be conducted in partnership with INEC’s Voter Education and Publicity Department, targeting voter mobilisation, anti-vote-buying messaging, and technology literacy among the electorate.

 

Also a post-election feedback mechanism through which AYF field coordinators would collect and submit polling unit-level data on logistics, staff conduct and technology performance to the Commission after each election.

 

In his remarks, Amupitan thanked the Forum for what he described as an exceptional show of objectivity, noting that positive assessments of the commission’s work were rare in the current media environment.

 

Amupitan said the AYF’s visit and public solidarity would strengthen the commission’s resolve as it intensified preparations for the 2027 general election.

 

He called on all Nigerians to support the commission in delivering elections that would serve as a model for Africa in 2027.

 

The INEC Chairman noted that that presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Jan. 15, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Feb. 6 2027,

 

 

 

“Nigeria has the largest democracy in Africa. For it to be well with Africa, Nigeria must get it right. And we are committed and determined to ensure that we face that election head on,” Prof. Amupitan said.

 

 

 

He cited the recently concluded Ekiti State Governorship Election as a demonstration of the commission’s improving standards.

 

He recalled that observers noted the early arrival of INEC officials at polling units, the calm and secure atmosphere, and the seamless deployment of election materials.

 

He promised that INEC would build on that template for subsequent elections, including the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for 16 August 2025.

 

Amupitan welcomed the proposals by the forum and directed the director of Voter Education and Publicity Department to immediately establish a formal liaison with the AYF to deepen the commission’s grassroots outreach in northern Nigeria.(www.primerisenews.com)