Postpone 2023 Elections Over Naira, Fuel Scarcity, Arewa Youths Tell Federal Govt

Citing the current fuel and naira scarcity across the country, the Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has called for the postponement of the 2023 general election, which commences on Saturday.

They hinged their call on the failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Committee on Fuel Scarcity to resolve the crisis.

The northern youths also cited the non-implementation of the recommendations of the National Council of State, National Assembly and Nigeria Governors Forum on how to ease the suffering of most Nigerians as reasons the elections should be shifted.

The group said it would not accept election results under the current situation in the country as most voters would be disenfranchised.

AYA in a statement issued by the speaker Mohammed Salihu Danlami, said, “It has become imperative for the Arewa Youth Assembly to call for the immediate suspension of the 2023 General Elections to enable Nigerians, especially menial workers from our region who are littered all over the country in search of greener pastures to return to where they registered to vote.

“We are worried that even those in the city, whose polling units are far away from their homes, won’t be able to transport themselves to cast their votes.

“We are particularly worried over the increasing spate of carnage and attacks on security formations in the South East and other private businesses in the South West. If security personnel and formations and banks can be attacked with ease, what more of ordinary Nigerians?

“In order not to deny Nigerians the privilege of electing who will be in charge of our beloved country in the next Four Years, we wish to call on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend all processes leading to the election.

“Failure to suspend the election will be considered as tactical rigging targeted at poor Nigerians, as most of them are struggling to survive in this challenging period caused by the artificial scarcity of the Naira,” he said.