2023: Ukeje Calls for Free Poll

The former lawmaker representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, Nnenna Ukeje, on Tuesday has said Nigerian youths see next year’s election as an opportunity to make a difference from all the challenges they see and that is why their interest in the exercise has heightened. 

He made the remark in Abuja during a citizens’ election dialogue on the theme, “What makes a good election in Nigeria”.

“For the very first time, with everything that is going on in Nigeria, you have seen an upsurge of people show a keen interest in the electoral process of this country,” the PDP stalwart said.

“We have seen over 10.3 million people come out to register, and the people are between the ages of 18-35 – 70 per cent of those people. Their hope is on the line. And the reason they are coming out is that they are hoping that this is their one chance to make a difference from all the challenges that they see.”

The PDP leader urged the electoral body and the Federal Government to have a free election in 2023 and warned that the results might be disastrous if the procedure was not transparent.

“Now, if anything goes awry, the effect of the disenchantment of these people, who have put their hopes in the future of this country through the ballot, is going to be difficult to contain,” she added.

“So, when we start to speak about the integrity of the people who want to be the umpires of this election, and we start to see that there is less than transparent engagement with the National Assembly and the Nigerian people, then it means that the outcome of the elections is going to leave a lot to be desired.

“So, I think it is of the utmost importance that the APC government realises that the onus is on them to come out there and give us the elections they promised us.”