Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria, South-East Zone, has launched a fierce and uncompromising grassroots campaign, warning politicians that the days of electoral manipulation, intimidation, inducement, and rigging are over. The council, under the banner of a new mobilisation drive tagged "Operation Use Your PVC Well," has declared that the youth of the South-East will no longer be passive spectators in the democratic process but active defenders of their votes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a press briefing in Enugu on Monday, August 17, 2026, the Vice President of the NYCN South-East Zone, Comrade Atigwe Henry Ifeanyi, flanked by members of his executive, delivered a blunt message to the political class. "The era where politicians rely on electoral manipulation, intimidation, inducement or rigging to secure political power must come to an end," he declared. "Today, we are saying clearly that the people are watching, and the youths are also watching. The era of taking the people's mandate for granted is over."
The council drew lessons from the recent Osun State governorship election, which it described as a turning point for Nigeria's democracy. Atigwe commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for its handling of the election and praised President Bola Tinubu for allowing the electoral process to operate without undue interference from the Presidency. He said the outcome of the Osun poll demonstrated that the will of the people, when freely expressed, could triumph over political influence. "For us, this is not merely about one election or one state. It is a message of hope for a new Nigeria and a stronger democracy where the ballot counts, rather than political influence, that always determines leadership," he said.
At the heart of the NYCN's campaign is a call for young Nigerians to move beyond political sentiments, party loyalty, and financial inducements when making electoral choices. Atigwe urged youths across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states to obtain and protect their Permanent Voter Cards, but more importantly, to understand the power attached to their votes. "Your PVC is not merely a card. It is your instrument of political participation and power to change bad leadership and enthrone good leadership. It is your voice at the ballot box that will determine your future, so be wise," he said.
The "Operation Use Your PVC Well" campaign, which will be rolled out across the five South-Eastern states, is designed to educate young voters on the need to investigate candidates, examine their records, and make informed electoral choices. The council said the campaign would promote voting for leaders capable of delivering good governance, security, economic opportunities, infrastructure, and accountability. Atigwe stressed that political candidates must be subjected to scrutiny based on their character, competence, capacity, and track record before receiving the mandate of the people. "Every politician seeking public office must present his or her scorecard before the electorate. Let the people examine what you have achieved, what you have failed to achieve, and what you intend to do differently. Leadership must be earned through competence, integrity, service and the confidence of the people; not through electoral manipulation."
The youth leader also called on politicians in the South-East to learn from the Osun experience and abandon the old ways of doing politics. He warned that the era of taking the people's mandate for granted was over, and that the electorate, particularly young Nigerians, was now more conscious of the importance of their votes and would increasingly demand accountability from political office holders. "We will not encourage violence. We will not promote destruction. We will not take the law into our hands. Instead, we will use the most powerful democratic weapon available to us, which is our PVC through the ballot," Atigwe declared.
The NYCN also challenged the South East Development Commission (SEDC) to meet the expectations of the people by delivering tangible projects capable of addressing the region's longstanding developmental challenges. Atigwe stressed that the Commission should prioritise infrastructure renewal, reconstruction, economic empowerment, and sustainable regional development, noting that residents of the South-East were looking beyond promises and expected measurable outcomes from government interventions. "The South-East deserves development that can be seen, felt and sustained," he said.
As the 2027 elections approach, the NYCN South-East has called on INEC to further strengthen its processes, technology, transparency, and institutional independence. The council also warned political actors against attempts to manipulate the electoral process or undermine the will of voters. But Atigwe was emphatic that the youths would not resort to violence or take the law into their hands, instead advocating lawful civic participation, voter mobilisation, advocacy, and the ballot as the legitimate means of challenging poor leadership. "The time has come for Nigerians to move from politics of sentiments to politics of competence and accountability," he concluded.
The launch of the "Use Your PVC Well" campaign signals a new chapter in the political consciousness of South-East youths. With their votes, they have declared, they will not only defend the ballot but reshape the future of their region and the nation. The message is clear: the era of political impunity is over, and the era of electoral accountability has begun.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments