The Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) has urged young Nigerians, particularly those in the North, to participate actively in the 2027 general elections and vote according to their conscience.
The forum made the call in a communiqué issued after an expanded emergency meeting of its national executive and state chairmen held at Arewa House in Kaduna.
The communiqué, signed by the forum’s National Director of Publicity, Bello Abdulhamid, said the meeting reviewed the state of the nation and discussed ways of increasing youth participation in the forthcoming elections.
The AYF expressed concern over insecurity across the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions, saying the situation had resulted in the displacement of communities and loss of lives. It also raised concerns about the impact of insecurity on farming and education.
On the economy, the group pointed to inflation, rising living costs and unemployment, saying these challenges were affecting young Nigerians and businesses. It also expressed concern over electricity supply and its impact on small businesses such as barbing salons, welding workshops, cold rooms and ICT centres.
The forum called for reforms in the education sector and raised concerns about pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, the AYF advised young Nigerians not to allow ethnic, religious or political differences to divide them. It urged eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, reject vote-selling and protect their votes throughout the electoral process.
The group also encouraged youths to examine the programmes and promises of candidates, particularly their positions on security, employment and electricity, before making their choices.
The forum further called on young Nigerians to reject electoral violence, misinformation and hate speech, while encouraging them to promote peace during the election period.
