Youth Apathy Threatens Democracy, SCDDD Member-Warns

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

A member of the Council of the Wise Savannah Center for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), Ummu Kalthum Muhammad Rabiu, has urged Nigerian youths to reject political apathy and actively participate in the country’s democratic process, warning that staying away from elections allows others to determine their future.

In a civic engagement message addressed to young Nigerians, Rabiu acknowledged the growing frustration among many youths, particularly those who believe their votes do not matter or that politics has little relevance to their lives.

She, however, argued that choosing not to participate in elections carries significant consequences.

“I hear many of you say, ‘My vote won’t count,’ or ‘Politics is not for me.’ I understand the frustration. But silence is also a choice, and apathy is a vote that allows someone else to decide your future,” she said.

According to her, decisions affecting education, employment opportunities, security, internet access and national development are ultimately shaped by citizens through their participation in the democratic process.

She stressed that governance is not determined solely by leaders in Abuja but also by the willingness of citizens to exercise their constitutional rights and hold public officeholders accountable.

Rabiu said the SCDDD Council of the Wise views civic participation as an essential tool for promoting peace, strengthening democratic institutions and fostering national development.

She encouraged eligible Nigerians to register as voters, obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), participate in elections, question political candidates on their plans and continue to demand accountability from elected officials after polls.

“Our civic responsibility is peacebuilding. Register to vote, collect your Permanent Voter Card, participate on election day, ask candidates the tough questions, and continue to hold elected leaders accountable after the elections,” she said.

She further called on young people to see themselves as critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic future, insisting that meaningful national progress depends on active citizen participation.

“Nigeria’s future will not build itself. We must build it together. Don’t sit this one out. Your vote is your voice. Use it,” she added.

Rabiu’s message comes amid ongoing calls by civil society organisations for increased youth participation in governance and electoral processes ahead of future elections, as concerns persist over voter apathy and declining civic engagement among young Nigerians.

Group Warns APC Over Oyo North Senate Ticket

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

New Age Transformative Leadership for Good Governance in Nigeria has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to review its decision on the Oyo North Senatorial ticket, warning that the party risks electoral setbacks if it ignores concerns raised by stakeholders.

At an emergency national press conference in Abuja, the national chairman of the organisation, Dr AK Peters, described the emergence of Mrs Hannah Ogunesan as the APC’s senatorial candidate for Oyo North as a “strategic political error” that could undermine the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the group’s intervention was not an attack on the ruling party but a patriotic appeal aimed at preventing avoidable political losses.

“We are speaking as stakeholders who desire the success of the APC in 2027. Loyalty demands honesty, and we believe the current ticket could become a major liability for the party if urgent corrective steps are not taken,” he said.

Peters argued that the candidate’s previous role in the Oyo State government had allegedly left unresolved grievances among grassroots supporters, warning that voter apathy and internal divisions could weaken the party’s electoral strength in the senatorial district.

He also alleged that opposition parties could exploit controversies surrounding the candidate to challenge the APC’s anti-corruption credentials during the campaign season.

The organisation further maintained that Oyo North remains politically strategic to the APC’s overall electoral fortunes in Oyo State, stressing that a divisive candidacy could affect not only the senatorial contest but also the party’s presidential and governorship votes in the state.

The group urged the APC leadership to prioritise unity, internal reconciliation, and the selection of candidates capable of uniting party members and mobilising grassroots support ahead of the election.

Earlier, the deputy national chairman of the organisation, Dr Abubakar Muhammed Sani, said the emergency press conference was convened to address what he described as growing concerns over the conduct of party primaries across the country.

Sani said the organisation, which is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), considered it a civic responsibility to speak out whenever democratic principles appeared to be threatened.

According to him, the outcomes of recent primaries conducted by several political parties, including the APC and other major parties, have raised questions about transparency, fairness, and respect for party members’ wishes.

He expressed concern that, in many instances, the preferences of party members were allegedly overridden by the influence of political power brokers, warning that such practices could weaken democratic institutions and reduce public confidence in elections.

The deputy chairman cited reports from Oyo North Senatorial District, where he claimed that the outcome of the primary election did not reflect the voting pattern recorded across several local government areas.

He also referenced allegations surrounding the conduct of another party’s primary involving a female aspirant, saying the incident underscored broader challenges confronting women seeking elective positions in Nigeria.

Sani warned that if political parties fail to conduct transparent and credible primaries, voter apathy could worsen, and many Nigerians may begin to lose faith in the electoral process.

The organisation therefore called on political parties, electoral stakeholders and relevant authorities to strengthen internal democracy, ensure credible candidate selection processes and uphold the principles of fairness, transparency and respect for the will of party members.

It maintained that restoring confidence in party primaries remains essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic system ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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APC Sweeps Gombe Council Polls as GOSIEC Declares Winners Across 11 LGAs

By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured a clean sweep in the 2026 Gombe State Local Government elections after the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC) declared the party winner of all 11 chairmanship seats and councillorship positions across the state’s 11 Local Government Areas and 11 Local Council Development Areas.

Announcing the official results on Saturday at the commission’s headquarters in Gombe, the Chairman of GOSIEC, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba Talatse, said the APC candidates emerged victorious after polling the highest number of valid votes in the elections.

“Having received, collated and verified the results submitted by our Returning Officers, and in accordance with the powers conferred on the Commission, I hereby declare the candidates of the All Progressives Congress duly elected as Chairmen of the 11 Local Government Councils of Gombe State.

The GOSIEC chairman described the election as peaceful and orderly, commending voters, political parties, security agencies, electoral officials and other stakeholders for their roles in ensuring a smooth exercise.

“The peaceful conduct of the election demonstrates the commitment of all stakeholders to the democratic process. We appreciate the maturity displayed by the electorate and the support provided by security agencies and election personnel,” he said.

Talatse noted that the successful conclusion of the polls underscored the commission’s commitment to conducting elections that are transparent, credible and consistent with the laws establishing the electoral body.

“The Commission remains committed to discharging its constitutional responsibilities with fairness, transparency and integrity,” he added.

The declaration confirms the APC’s continued dominance in Gombe State’s grassroots political landscape, with the party retaining control of all 11 local government councils following the conclusion of the 2026 local government elections.