Kwara LG Election : Consider Youthfulness, Competence in choices of candidates – Group tells PDP, APC, Others 

Ahead of the commencement of activities leading to the conduct of the much anticipated Local Government Election in Kwara, a socio-political group under the aegis of Kwara Central Youth Ambassadors Initiative (KCYAI) has appealed to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and other political parties to consider youthfulness, competence, credibility, and good character in their choices of candidates across the fifty-two wards, and four local government areas in the district. 

The group which comprises young minds at a press conference on Wednesday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital stated that the age-long tradition of allocating party tickets to the older generation and political stooges should be jettisoned in the interest of Kwarans, particularly the youth folks in the state. 

Youth Ambassador and chairman of the group, Mr. Zakariyah AbdulKadir Olasunkanmi said their advocacy for youthfulness, competency, and character considerations was borne out of extensive scrutiny of the pedigree and capacity of the majority elected candidates who emerged from various political parties most especially the defunct PDP during the 2017 Local government elections in Kwara, adding that selection standard be raised to allow at least seventy percent youths contest for the councilorship and the chairmanship positions. 

AbdulKadir further stressed that requisite experience, youthfulness, and strength of character are required to pilot the affairs of the closest tier of government to the people who have long desired the conduct of Local government elections in the state.

While commending the remarkable representation of the youths constituency by the defunct PDP as party flagbearers at the 2017 Local Government election in the state, the group described as incredible the percentage allocated to the youths to contest for the councilorship as well as the chairmanship positions. 

“We have come to terms that the much anticipated local government elections in Kwara should be different from the events of the past. It is a statement of fact that the percentage of the elected candidates during the 2017 Local Government Election under the banner of the defunct PDP was incredibly encouraging. We, therefore, appeal to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and other political parties to consider youthfulness, competence, credibility, and good character in the choices of candidates who will emerge as the candidates for the position of councilors and chairmen from across the fifty-two wards and four local government areas in Kwara central senatorial district.

“As a group of young minds, We are reminded of the age-long practice of doling tickets to the older generation and political stooges by political parties who by the contemporary standard is not healthy for our polity. It behooves the leadership of all political parties to consider the set considerations in the interest of Kwarans who are desirous of purposeful leadership as we struggle through the socio-economic challenges in the country. 

“For prosperity’s sake, We urge all the political parties to jettison the old practice by electing at least seventy percent of the youth constituency to represent their various wards and local government councils in the forthcoming election in Kwara state. 

“Our call for requisite experience, youthfulness, and strength of character are required for every representative to pilot the affairs of the closest tier of government to the people who have long desired the conduct of Local government elections in the state.”

The group, therefore, urged the electoral umpire in the state, the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) led by Hon. Okala Baba, and the State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to justify Kwarans’ faith in conducting the best and fairest election in the history of the commission.

“While we commend the state government for setting up instruments in preparation for the conduct of the much anticipated local government election, We also appeal to the government most especially the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) to justify the confidence and faith in which Kwarans reposed in them by conducting the best and fairest election in the history of our dear state.”

Meanwhile, the group has promised to organize a session with all the youthful councilorship and chairmanship aspirants across the political parties contesting for the local government elections within the district as well as rally support for them when elected as the party’s flagbearers.

“We, however, said that efforts are in top gear for the commencement of summer lessons for the school pupils within Kwara Central senatorial district, and also offer scholarships for school students in the district.”