Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), has called on Nigerian celebrities to utilise their
platforms to promote voter education, youth inclusion and non-violent
participation in the 2019 general elections.
Yakubu made the call
at an INEC Interactive Session/Dinner held in Lagos on Saturday night
while appointing new ambassadors for the commission.
The News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the interaction was put together by
INEC in collaboration with the European Centre for Electoral Support
(ECES).
The chairman, who was represented by Dr Adekunle
Ogunmola, the National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Ogun, Ondo and
Lagos States, reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring that
youths are central in the electoral process.
“INEC, in line with
its electoral policies, prioritises the participation of disadvantaged
groups, including the youth in electoral process.
“The commission
has overtime developed electoral cycle-based interventions and creative
innovations on electoral issues affecting the youths.
“In 2014,
the commission in collaboration with youth organisations conceptualised
the idea of identifying from the entertainment industry, the media and
outstanding youths influencers, while commissioning them as voter
education youth ambassadors.
“We want you to utilise your platforms for disseminating voter education and non-violent messages to citizens
“He
recalled that some young celebrities were unveiled in 2015 as INEC
Youth Ambassadors at an INEC Youth Summit held in Abuja with specific
responsibility to engage citizens on peaceful participation,” he said.
The
chairman noted that the ambassadors were selected based on profile and
fellowship, reputation, credibility nonpartisan ship and commitment to
volunteerism.
According to the INEC boss, the ambassadors were
prominent individuals who had distinguished themselves in the field of
entertainment, arts, sports, democratic development and literature.
He
said that the commission wanted increased participation of youth, women
and persons with disability in order to boost citizens’ trust and
confidence in electoral process.
The commission had before the
2015 general elections inaugurated a team of successful Nigerian Youths
as its first crop of youth ambassadors for the purpose of working with
INEC in reducing and curtailing electoral violence.
The
ambassadors included singers, comedians, actors, actresses, journalists
were: Innocent Idibia (2Baba), Ime Okon (Bishop), Michael Ifeanyichukwu,
Ijeoma Okoye, Ibrahim Adra, Alex Ibe, Ali Muhammed and Gideon Okeke.
Others were: Helen Paul, Adam Zango, Seun Okinbaloye, Frank Edwards and Akintayo Faniran.
Some
of the new ambassadors/celebrities inaugurated at the event included:
Bright Okpacha, Ayo Makun, Uti Nwachukwu, Korede Bello, Ebuka
Obi-Uchendu, Chidinma Emile, Jude Abaga, Yakubu Mohammed, Cobhams
Asuquo, Gimba Umar and Aituaje Wake.
Others were: Adesuwa Etomi,
Ikubese Emmanuel, Anti Lecky, Above Ugboma, Stanley Chibuna, Chioma
Omeruah, Jephthah Bowoto, Uche Okechukwu, Fati Washa, Sank Danja and
Yinka Ayefele.
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