By Joy Odor
It has been observed that the Youth wing of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) which is under the Leadership of National Youth Leader, Mr Dayo Israel, has taken a major strategy saddled with the responsibility to strengthen the participation of young people in the political process beyond the use of young APC members as political thugs or mere voters.
To this end, the office of the National Youth Leader, has promised to lobby for young aspirants who have purchased nomination forms.
This was made available to newsmen by the Co-chair of the APC youth Wing, Alhaji Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad during a press briefing in Abuja at the party’s National Secretariat on Tuesday.
The group informed that they would also lobby policy makers across the country to ensure the success and emergence of credible young aspirants in the forthcoming primaries.
Alhaji Ahmad noted that its committee’s focus is to create a Technical Platform, providing strategic and moral support to young members who have purchased their nomination forms or intending to purchase before the expiration of the dateline set by the party.
The Co-chair stressed that its committee have been able to engage a few governors during the process.
“We have engaged with the governor of Lagos State, governor of Ogun State, Governor of Ekiti state. And we have all gotten very firm commitment from these governors.
”Already, They have shown a lot of encouragement because once you look through their cabinet , you would find that a lot of the people they are currently bringing into their cabinet are young people.
“This week we are able to secure appointments to meet with the Cross Rivers State Governor, Niger State Governor, Gombe state governor, Kebbi State governor Jigawa State governor and Kano Kano state governor.
“So far, we have seen a lot of positive results. We have areas where we have our young aspirants who have been cleared to run as, state House of Assembly Members, some house of representatives from Senate, some even governors.
“We can help them with fundraising, and things like that. So that beyond the primaries, we are going into the elections, we will continue to support them and ensure they succeed.
Earlier, the National Youth Leader, Mr Dayo Israel said his office is committed to ensure the increment of young people in politics ahead of the 2023 general elections and beyond.
In his word ” we know that this is an election year. So, we have a commitment to ensure that we can increase the number of young people according to our party constitution. 40 years and below who are running or participating in this election.
“As a result of that, we set up this high level Working Group on huge inclusion in the 2023 elections that is composed of some of the best minds that this country has produced so far In the youth sector,” he said.
High level group members in attandance include
The Co-Chairs, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad – *Managing Director of Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency*
Mrs. Solape Hammond, *Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on SDGs and Investment*
*Other members of the High Level Working Group are* –
Hon IBRAHIM HAMZA – *Member House of Representatives*
Ahmad Rufai Zakari – *Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure*
Hon Ginika Tor – *Federal Commissioner, Federal Character Commission*
Hon. Sadiq S. Abubakar – *Former National Youth Leader of the APC*
Mr Wole Aboderin – *Special Adviser to the President on NGOs, Office of the First Lady*
Makinde Araoye – *Special Adviser on Federal Matters to the Governor of Ekiti State*
Dr Abdul A ibrahim- *President Nigerian Weightlifters Association*
Hassan Umar Kamfut – Borno State
Moremi Ojudu – *SSA to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Working Group Secretary*
Amaka Lawrence – *Technical Assistant to the Working Group*
