ENUGU, NIGERIA — The National Youth Council of Nigeria, South-East Zone, has issued a stern warning to politicians against electoral manipulation and has called on young people in the region to actively participate in the 2027 elections by using their Permanent Voter Cards to reject incompetent leaders.
The youth council made the declaration during a press conference in Enugu on Wednesday, where leaders of the organisation from the five South-Eastern states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—gathered to articulate their position ahead of the 2027 general elections. The event, which drew significant attention from civil society groups and media, marked a unified stance by the region’s youth to take charge of their political destiny.
Addressing journalists, the South-East Zonal Coordinator of NYCN, Comrade Chibuzor Okafor, warned that the days of political manipulation and imposition of unpopular candidates are over. He declared that the youth of the region are fully aware of the power they wield as voters and are prepared to use that power to ensure that only credible, competent, and accountable leaders emerge from the 2027 elections.
“We have seen the consequences of poor leadership in our region and across Nigeria. We have witnessed the decay in infrastructure, the collapse of educational and healthcare systems, and the erosion of opportunities for young people. These are the results of entrusting our future to leaders who lack vision, competence, and integrity,” Okafor said.
The NYCN leader further urged young people in the South-East to be vigilant and resist any attempts by politicians to buy their votes or manipulate the electoral process. He stressed the importance of getting their PVCs and turning out en masse on election day to vote for candidates who have demonstrated a track record of service and a genuine commitment to the welfare of the people.
“We are no longer going to be used as thugs or tools of political violence. We are no longer going to be deceived by those who only remember us during election season. Our votes are our power, and we will use them wisely to elect leaders who will prioritise our interests,” Okafor added.
The youth council also condemned what they described as the culture of godfatherism and political dynasty that has stifled the emergence of fresh, competent leadership in the South-East. They called on political parties to ensure that their primaries are free, fair, and transparent, allowing the best candidates to emerge regardless of their financial backing or family connections.
“We are calling on all political parties to listen to the voices of the youth. We are tired of recycled leaders who have failed to deliver. We want a new generation of leaders who understand our challenges and are willing to work for the common good,” the youth council stated in a communiqué issued after the meeting.
The youth leaders also called on security agencies to ensure that the 2027 elections are free from violence and intimidation, vowing that they would resist any attempt to disrupt the democratic process. They expressed confidence in their ability to mobilise young people across the South-East to ensure that the region speaks with one voice in rejecting bad leadership.
“We are ready. We are mobilised. And we will not be silenced,” Okafor declared. “The future of the South-East and Nigeria depends on the choices we make in 2027. We will not fail our generation or the generations to come.”
The youth council’s declaration has been widely welcomed by civil society organisations and political observers, who see the growing youth activism as a positive development for Nigeria’s democracy. The challenge for the youth council will be translating their rhetoric into action and ensuring that the youth of the South-East are fully mobilised and engaged ahead of the 2027 elections. For now, the message from the South-East is clear: the youth are watching, and they are ready to hold their leaders accountable.
