Arewa Forces Rally Behind INEC to Drive Voter Turnout

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a significant pledge of support from the Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), signaling a reinforced commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system. A delegation from the AYF, led by its Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, where they expressed confidence in INEC’s ongoing efforts and sought a strategic partnership for future elections.

During the visit, Alhaji Gujungu lauded INEC for its steadfast resilience in conducting elections across the vast Nigerian landscape. He particularly highlighted the observable improvements in critical aspects of election management, logistics, and the strategic deployment of technology, all of which are geared towards enhancing the overall credibility of the electoral process. Gujungu unequivocally reaffirmed the Forum’s unwavering confidence in the nation’s electoral umpire and pledged the AYF's continuous support for initiatives designed to foster public trust in Nigeria's evolving democratic framework.

Furthermore, the AYF Chairman articulated the Forum’s dedication to promoting objective assessments of INEC’s activities. He stressed the importance of actively discouraging attempts by various actors to erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral institutions through the propagation of misinformation and politically motivated narratives. Gujungu emphasized, "The Forum remains committed to supporting efforts that strengthen confidence in the electoral process and ensure that citizens receive accurate information about the work of the Commission." This statement underscores AYF’s role in counteracting disinformation campaigns that could undermine electoral integrity.

As part of its concrete proposals for collaboration, the Arewa Youth Forum sought a direct strategic partnership with INEC, specifically focusing on the crucial areas of voter education and civic engagement. The Forum presented its extensive network of young people across Northern Nigeria as a valuable resource, offering to leverage this network to support grassroots sensitisation programmes. These programmes would be aimed at several key objectives: encouraging informed participation in elections, promoting peaceful conduct throughout the electoral cycle, and vigorously discouraging all forms of electoral malpractice. In a bid to foster continuous improvement, the delegation also proposed the establishment of a structured feedback mechanism. This mechanism would enable the systematic documentation and sharing of observations gathered from polling units and various election stakeholders directly with the Commission, thereby aiding ongoing enhancements in election administration.

In response, Prof. Amupitan expressed profound appreciation for the AYF’s visit and its demonstrable commitment to democratic governance. He underscored the indispensable role of active participation by young people and civic organisations in ensuring the sustained growth and vitality of democracy in Nigeria. Prof. Amupitan provided the delegation with an update on INEC’s comprehensive preparations for forthcoming elections, detailing ongoing initiatives aimed at bolstering institutional capacity, refining operational efficiency, and deepening engagement with all relevant stakeholders.

However, the INEC Chairman also raised pertinent concerns regarding the escalating challenge of misinformation. He specifically addressed the alarming misuse of emerging technologies to disseminate false narratives, which possess the dangerous potential to undermine public confidence in the electoral process. In light of this, he strongly urged all citizens to prioritize and rely on verified information obtained exclusively from official Commission channels and other demonstrably credible sources. Acknowledging the Forum’s constructive proposal for collaboration, Prof. Amupitan took immediate action by directing the Commission’s Voter Education and Publicity Department to engage directly with the AYF group. The directive was clear: explore viable areas of partnership that would effectively strengthen voter education efforts, particularly focusing on reaching and impacting communities at the grassroots level.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both the Arewa Youth Forum and the Independent National Electoral Commission reaffirming their mutual commitment to a collaborative future. Their shared objective is to diligently work together to promote enhanced civic participation, elevate voter awareness, and ultimately build stronger public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic processes.