EU, INEC organise free ‘Youth Vote Count’ concert in Nigeria

By Kehinde Olatunji and Oluwatomiwa Ogunniyi
08 June 2022 | 4:10 am

The European Union (EU) has partnered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise the second edition of ‘Youth Votes Count’, a free music concert to encourage more youths to register and vote in the 2023 general elections.

The organisers emphasised the need for younger people to be actively involved in the political processes, saying this would bridge the gap of voter apathy in the country.

Speaking about the project, Project Manager at EU, Mrs. Olaolu Olawunmi, said the concert would take place at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos on Saturday, June 11, by 10 a.m. and the only gate pass needed is the Personal Voter Card (PVC) or Temporary Voter Card (TVC).

‘Youth Vote Count’ initiative is a non-partisan campaign, funded by the EU and was launched in 2018 with the sole objective of getting young people to participate more in the electoral process.

Olawunmi lamented that there is disconnect between the younger generation and political processes, saying that this is as a result of high degree of distrust in the electoral processes.

She said: “This has been a long time in planning and we are very happy that we are at a stage where we are implementing the plan and looking towards a successful conclusion. It has taken a lot of teamwork to get to where we are today and we agreed that the electoral process would be inclusive, transparent and efficient and that there are efforts to ensure that the process is continuously improved.

“The ‘Youth Vote Count’ is a non partisan campaign that was launched in 2018 with the sole objective of getting young people to participate more in the electoral process. The population of young people in this country is huge but that has not translated to an effective participation in the electoral process. We want to get young Nigerians to get involved.

“We know that there is a high level of voter apathy and the reason people don’t want to engage is because they don’t believe that the system would work for them. They don’t believe that how they cast their votes would influence the kind of leaders that we would get at the end of the day.

“Even if you decide not to engage, it is a decision that would affect the political process, so why not lend your voice? This is the message that the Youth Vote Count is trying to pass across,” she said.

Also speaking at the press conference, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Olusegun Agbaje, hinted that there is no plan to extend the date of Continuous Voters Registration (CVR), while urging the youths to get their PVCs.

Agbaje assured that the commission is working hard to ensure that all votes count, adding that to make the process easier, the commission brought 50 capturing machines from Abuja and added more polling units to Lagos.

He said, “We wanted to bring the youths together, talk with them so that they can know that their votes would count in the general election and they have up to the end of June 30 when the exercise would have been completed.

“The CVR would end on June 30 and the commission does not have any intention of extending the date any further and that is why the EU has partnered with INEC to ensure that we bring as many on board as we can get among the youths, particularly in Lagos State.

“What we are doing here today is not going to be limited to Lagos State alone, it will be done in all parts of the federation. We are only kick starting from here. Those who want to transfer their PVC to a closer polling unit, those whose PVCs are damaged all came here.

“Last year, the commission improved the number of polling units that we have in Lagos State but many of them have not been properly populated. It would be too bad if we go for election and the commission has to be printing ballot papers and there won’t be voters.

“I have told the European Union that every week we usually capture about 25,000 every week. About 50 machines have been brought from Abuja and they are working perfectly and in good use.

“I wish to sincerely thank the EU for their support to ensure we have a very successful outcome. The EU has spent a lot of money to organise the concert and we don’t want it to go to waste. We want everyone to come and watch the show, which is free. The only gate fee you need to show is your PVC or Temporary Voters Card,” he said.

Some of the artists expected are Kizz Daniel, who will headline the show, MI, Teni the Entertainer, Tubaba, Falz, Patoranking, Mayorkun, Omawunmi and actors like Chioma Chukwuka, Mr. Macaroni, among others.

https://guardian.ng/politics/eu-inec-organise-free-youth-vote-count-concert-in-nigeria/



Picture 1: Executive Director, International Press Center, Lanre Arogundade (left); Nigerian Rapper and Record Producer, Jude Lemfani Abaga (MI); Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission, Lagos State, Segun Agbaje; Programme Manager, Political Governance and Democracy Section, Delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Laolu Olawumi, and Executive Director, Institute for Media and Society (IMS), Akin Akingbulu, at a briefing to announce the ‘Youth Vote Count’ Mega Concert in Lagos

Pictures.

More pictures.

Tinubu is a shaky shaky criminal

Imagine going and then misplacing your PVC. Will be ironic

Lol

.

End.

Na the EU wey una dey call to help you slipt the country bii dis?

Forget it... this country will remain one Nigeria...

INEC suppose remove the I in their name because they are no longer Independent

Leave ham for jagaban
The owambee' is about to start









Guys wey no get girlfriend get peace of mind

L

Hope u know say nah best rigger they win election for naija

Nur b all this one wey unah Dey do

Nice

Let's go there. The awareness is getting wild. Nice one

Okay. What of item 7

Lol people fit no come oh mak dem add food to the concert he go motivate them join....


Free food dey part of thing wey motivate youth during ENDSARS...

Less than 15% of Nigerian population voted in 2015 and 2019. This is the height political aparty.

INEC should do more to allow people register. 30million people (inclusive of all rigging) should not determine our fate in 2023.

After all the posts has been shared among all the elders after the primary election and they want to use the youth again. Why are they brin this thing first before all the primary election. Youth shine your eyes again .

Nice initiative.

naptu2:


https://guardian.ng/politics/eu-inec-organise-free-youth-vote-count-concert-in-nigeria/



Picture 1: Executive Director, International Press Center, Lanre Arogundade (left); Nigerian Rapper and Record Producer, Jude Lemfani Abaga (MI); Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission, Lagos State, Segun Agbaje; Programme Manager, Political Governance and Democracy Section, Delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Laolu Olawumi, and Executive Director, Institute for Media and Society (IMS), Akin Akingbulu, at a briefing to announce the ‘Youth Vote Count’ Mega Concert in Lagos

registering to get PVC is very good but it doesnt start and end there. the standard that the electorate sets for political aspirants and office holders is so low hence we have all these charlatants parading themselves and using money to buy their way into office. most people vote strictly along religious or ethnic lines and not based on competence. some vote based on financial inducement. others vote based on the fact that they just like the aspirant. many dont judge or scrutinise the credentials of these people. the politicians know this and thats why they are so bold because the electorate are grossly ignorant. so instead of all this, better voter education on the rights of the electorate as citizens of nigeria and how to demand, protect and fight for their rights will go a long way. if the people dont raise their expectations as to what they want from those in government in line with constitutional demands, then getting PVC wouldnt change a thing.

Osinbajo political career is over. U can be a prof and still be a fool. Education is not wisdom!

Prechgold1180:
Hope u know say nah best rigger they win election for naija

Nur b all this one wey unah Dey do

Abeg shut up

Let’s go there…

This is a good step to start with

God bless the youth

Annie001:

Abeg shut up

Ok

South East Govt's and leaders shebi una dey see what is happening in Lagos? Things like this makes people come out enmass to register their PVC.

Why can't South East leaders do things like this in their respective state to enable the masses come out and register their PVC. Low turn out of voters register is the reason South East vote is always low in every geo political zone. Encourage your people to come and and register. Make the registration center easy and available to them.

A friend of mine residing in Awka told me yesterday that for the past three days she was unable to get her PVC because is only two center they have in Awka, and the crowed there is too much. Why can't their leaders make this easy for them?

Just look at the PVC registration center pictures the OP posted as many as possible for easy accessibility. Wise up South East.

Great initiative but do the Nigerian youths have sense? That's the question.
Do they care? They would rather k!ll themselves over this old men who CONSTANTLY MORTGAGE thier future cos of ordinary peanuts.
Even the ones who don't even see peanuts still come on social media to become keypad warriors for this old thieves.

Nigerian youths suffer from severe Stockholm Syndrome. Just a few have sense. Just a few!

Ok