The European Centre for Electoral Support, ECES, has advised youths in Edo State not get involved or allow themselves to be used by politicians to perpetrate violence during the state’s governorship election which is scheduled to hold on the the 19th of September.
Dr. Isiaka Yahaya, ECES’s Senior Electoral Administration Expert, made this known on Saturday at a town hall meeting on youths and non-violent participation in Edo governorship election.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
According to Yahaya, “Youth should not allow selfish politicians to use you to perpetrate violence.
“When you see what may lead to violence, do not resort to self-defense but report to security agents for action,” he said.
He also stressed that, by involving in electoral violence and malpractices the will of the people would be truncated during the election.
He added that; “youths are always the victims of election violence because they are the one that would be injured, killed and also arrested by the police.”
He also urged the youths in the state not to engage in any form of vote-buying, stating that by doing this, it can amount to mortgaging of their future.
