Voter apathy: Commissioner urges Ebonyi youths to massively vote on Feb. 23

The Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Ebonyi, Charles Akpuenika, has urged youths in the state to turn out en-masse on Feb. 23 to exercise their franchise in spite of the disappointments of the postponed Feb. 16 Presidential and National Assembly polls.

Akpuenika, who made the appeal on Wednesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki, called on youths and other citizens not to be demoralised.

Akpuenika said that the postponement might be a blessing in disguise, as the path to positive societal change was not usually easy.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pledged that the postponement will enable it to put modalities in place to conduct free and fair elections on Feb. 23.

“We are all clamouring for credible polls in the country and if the postponement will enable INEC to achieve this aim, we should give it such chance.

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“Youths in the state have been sensitised and mobilised to shun apathy and have faith in the electoral process in spite of the resentment which greeted the Feb. 16 election postponement,’’ he said.

The commissioner urged youths and other citizens not only to massively cast their votes but also ensure that their votes counted.

“The youths of Ebonyi are determined to protect their votes because such will ensure that their future is protected.

“We are determined to resist rigging and all forms of electoral malpractice because it is only those that are not firmly rooted in the state that thinks of rigging.

“We will carry the same level of determination, motivation and enthusiasm we had before the postponement because we want the right things to be done,’’ he said.

Akpuenika, a foremost youth leader, noted that such determination stems from the enhancement of the youths’ lives by the various empowerment schemes of the Gov. David Umahi-led administration.

“Youths have never enjoyed several empowerment schemes as obtained presently coupled with several elective and appointive positions in governance.

“We feel the best way to ensure the continuation of these good tidings is to massively vote and defend our votes on Feb. 23 and March.9,’’ he said.