Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua stressed the importance of youths and women organizing to control Nigeria’s political landscape at the North West Zonal Legislative Interactive Session in Katsina State. The event, themed “Legislation and Participation of Women and Young Persons in Election and Leadership,” was organized by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and United Nations Women with funding support from the Government of Canada.
Sen Yar’adua who is the Vice Chairman of the Committee encouraged young people to leverage their energy and numbers to contest elective offices, rather than relying on established parties. “Youths should capitalize on their demographic advantage to drive change,” he said. “Women’s participation is crucial for representative governance.”
He also advocated for Early Voting through a bill that allows aged, less privileged, and security personnel to vote before the main election date. On the appointment of the INEC chairman Sen.Yar’adua noted that the current system ensures checks and balances for the Independent National Electoral Commission chairman’s appointment. He stressed that issues relating to electoral malpractices has to do with the behavioral patterns of the political class and the electorates rather than the complicity of the Electoral Commission.
The two-day event, starting Thursday, October 24, 2024, brought together various youths and women’s group from the North West of Nigeria. Notable attendees included the Katsina State Governor’s representative, the Secretary to the State Government, Alh Abdullahi Garba Faskari, and some Senate Committee on Electoral Matters members led by the Chairman Sen Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli
