Ahead of the next general elections, the All Progressives Congress Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee has approved the establishment of zonal strategic lobby committees that will engage party leaders at state and local levels to galvanize support for the full inclusion and participation of young people in its forthcoming Congresses and beyond.
National Youth Representative in the APC CECPC, Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed, gave the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Thursday.
Barrister Ahmed said the party has adopted the recommendation that anyone vying for the position of youth leader in the Wards must be persons aged between 18-35years.
He noted that the party position was in line with recommendations of the recently concluded National Progressives Youth Conference as part of the guidelines for the conduct of the upcoming ward, local government and state congresses of the ruling party.
He said: “On behalf of the millions of young people in our great party the All Progressives Congress, I commend our leaders for adopting parts of the recommendations of the recently concluded National Progressives Youth Conference as part of the guidelines for the conduct of the upcoming ward, local government and state congresses of our party.
“This action has rekindled the hopes of millions of Progressive youths who until now had been dispirited from participating in the party activities and holding elective leadership positions within the party especially at the grassroots level.
“The leadership of our party are very aware that the inclusion of this part of our communique and other parts that will also be considered and will be seen by many young people as a call to ownership of a platform that needs the energy, vigour and intellect of the youth.
“And this guideline, although just a restatement of our already existing written laws, is a demonstration of genuine efforts to create a space for youth participation at the local level of participatory politics in the party.
“On our part, we will take this further by setting up Strategic Engagement Committees which will work in conjunction with caretaker youth leaders in the various zones that will engage governors, legislators, ministers and other leaders and stakeholders in every zone to get more young people to occupy large percentages of the executives at the ward and LG levels.
‘We believe since the battle of the forthcoming elections will be fought for the youth vote, then it is wise for our party to fight that battle with the youth voice.
“I am also using this opportunity to call on all young progressives to use the occasion of the Sallah break to engage with youths in their wards and polling units. Sensitise them aggressively on the need to be part of the congresses and advance the cause of our progressive movement.”
Barrister Ahmed further disclosed that the approved committees are to work in conjunction and consultation with the interim youth leaders in their respective domains for maximum impact.
“The Chairman of the CECPC has approved for the Youth Wing of the APC to set up zonal strategic lobby committees that will engage party leaders at state and local levels to lobby the full inclusion and participation of young people in the forthcoming Congresses.
“The committees are to engage with party leaders, governors, legislators, Ministers, elders and other critical stakeholders within their zones in ensuring that at least many party positions are manned by youths at the lower levels so as to attract the energy, commitment and brains of young people in running the affairs of the party and giving them a sense of ownership and therefore commitment.”
The statement said there was also a National Youth Lobby Group set up to meet with leaders at the National level for effective delivery of the Youth Mandate.
“Our expectation is that the congresses whether by consensus or contests will throw up many young and committed members of the party at the ward level as leaders that would invigorate the party.”
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