Progressives Youth Reawaken for Political Participation

Ahead of the 2023 general poll, the national leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has mandated the youth wing of the party to set up zonal strategic lobby committees at State and Ward levels.

This was communicated in a statement by the National Youth representative in the party’s Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Ismaeel Ahmed, in Abuja on Thursday.

He lauded the party’s leadership for accepting part of the recommendations made at the recent APC National Progressives Youth Conference, which suggested that anyone vying for the position of a youth leader in the party must be between the ages of 18-35 years.
Ahmed noted that this should form part of plans for conducting the party’s upcoming Ward, Local Government, and State congresses.
He noted that by adopting the recommendations, the party leadership had reawakened the hopes of millions of progressive youths.

According to him, the youth have lost interest in holding leadership positions, especially at grassroots levels, as no opportunity was opened.
“On our part, we will take this further by setting up Strategic Engagement Committees, which will work in conjunction with caretaker youth leaders in the various zones.

“The committee will engage Governors, Legislators, Ministers, and other leaders and stakeholders in every zone to get more young people to occupy large percentages of the executives at the Ward and Local Government levels.

“We believe that since the battle of the forthcoming elections will be fought for the youth vote, it is wise for our party to fight that battle with youth voice,” he said.

Ahmed called on the progressives youth to sensitise their people in various wards and polling units to be part of the congresses and to expand the cause of the party’s movement.

He tasked the approved committees to collaborate with the acting youth leaders in their respective domains for absolute impact.

“The Chairman of the CECPC has approved for the Youth Wing of the APC to set up zonal strategic lobby committees.

“The committees are to engage with party leaders, Governors, Legislators, Ministers, Elders and other critical stakeholders within their zones.

“The committee is to ensure that most party positions are manned by youths at the lower levels,” he said.

Ahmed further revealed that a National Youth Lobby Group had been established and will meet with the party’s national leaders for the effective delivery of the youth mandate.