Pat Utomi, political economist, Femi Falana, senior lawyer, and Kennedy Iyere, social advocate, have unveiled the Nigerian Youths and Girls Political Emancipation Motion (NYWOPEM) and formally launched the #FixNASS2027 civic marketing campaign in Lagos.
The revealing, organised by the Youths Off The Road Initiative (YOTSI), introduced collectively stakeholders from throughout political platforms, civil society, youth teams, spiritual our bodies, and women-led organisations.
Talking on the occasion, Iyere, who can be the founding father of YOTSI, 40Million Ballots Motion, and convener of the motion, mentioned NIYWOPEN was conceived in response to persistent beneath illustration of youths and ladies in governance regardless of their voting numerical energy of over 60 % of the voting inhabitants.
Iyere mentioned whereas younger folks and ladies represent a major proportion of registered voters, their illustration within the Nationwide Meeting and different elective political positions stays comparatively low.
He famous that this imbalance has restricted inclusive coverage making and weakened public accountability.
In response to Iyere, NIYWOPEM seeks to offer a unifying electoral engagement platform via which youths and ladies can politically community collectively in direction of electing themselves into political workplaces and likewise guaranteeing that their voting energy is nicely exercised in deciding winners of elections in Nigeria, thereby implementing accountable management that compels accountable governance via democratic means.
On the occasion, the group additionally launched “#FixNASS2027,” a nationwide political sensitization marketing campaign and grassroots voters mobilisation motion, championed by each the peculiar Nigerians and anxious elites alike, aimed to assist present a unified peer-to-peer electoral engagement, networking, sensitisation and mass mobilization platform, the place voters, particularly youths and ladies, will be capable of unite themselves (be a part of forces) to run for legislative workplaces in 2027 on the federal and state ranges, and likewise assist different credible and patriotic Nigerians to win legislative seats, in replacemet of these presently in workplace, who’ve proven their lack of independence, performance, patriotism and respect for the electorates by their refusal to approve the digital transmission of ends in the brand new electoral act invoice, which certainly is the need of each Nigerian.
“The necessity to entrench a people-driven useful Nigerian federal and state legislature, requires the launch of #FixNASS2027, and that what we have now executed right now, our gratitude goes to Professor Pat Utomi and Femi Falana (SAN) for the roles they’ve performed, as key patrons of this motion. It’s time for Nigerian youths and ladies to reverse elite political dominance by utilizing their voting energy, as a software”, Iyere mentioned.
Iyere described the initiative as a name for political reawakening, urging Nigerians to deploy their voting energy strategically to demand efficiency and transparency from lawmakers.
He clarified that the motion isn’t affiliated with any political get together, stating that its focus is on figuring out and supporting people with exemplary competence and capability, whatever the get together platform.
He added that potential legislative candidates endorsed by the motion can be required to decide to written social contracts to make sure accountability.
Iyere additional name on Nigerians to mount extra stress on their Senators and Federal Home Members in direction of pushing for his or her unconditional approval of real-time digital transmission of outcomes, as demanded by Nigerians.
He affirmed that a number of civil society teams have been purchased over by politicians therefore they’ve determined to not mount extra stress on their political paymasters. Iyere mentioned that #FixNASS2027 will present a lawful and peaceable civic platform the place the advocacy and activism for the brand new electoral regulation passage shall be taken to the homes and constituency workplaces of the members of the present tenth Nationwide Meeting
He emphasised that the motion’s actions would stay non-violent and grounded in constitutional rights.
Falana known as on the Nationwide Meeting to urgently amend the Electoral Act to make the digital transmission of election outcomes from polling models to the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) central server obligatory.
Falana mentioned the demand has turn out to be needed following the 2023 normal elections and subsequent Supreme Court docket judgments which held that digital transmission of outcomes was optionally available beneath the present regulation.
On his half, Prof Pat Utomi mentioned the formal launch of NIYWOPEN and FixNASS2027 alerts the start of sustained mobilization efforts aimed toward strengthening democratic participation and increasing alternatives for teens and ladies in Nigeria’s political panorama.
Utomi bolstered the decision for necessary digital transmission, describing arguments about community limitations as unfounded.
Utomi maintained that after polling unit outcomes are captured electronically, they are often uploaded as soon as connectivity is accessible, rendering community considerations inadequate grounds for abandoning the system. He in contrast the method to digital banking platforms extensively used throughout Nigeria, arguing that comparable know-how has confirmed dependable in monetary transactions.
He warned lawmakers towards actions that might undermine electoral credibility, stating that historical past would decide harshly any try and maintain processes that allow manipulation.
