The Labour Party (LP) on Friday, said that the likelihood that about 3.5 million students may not be able to vote, due to inability to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) because they are in school, was a calculated attempt to deny the party its due votes in the on coming general elections.

The LP’ National Youth Leader, Prince Ahanotu, who stated this at a press briefing in Abuja, called for an extension of the deadline for collection of the PVCs.

He also demanded that students in higher Institutions be given a one week holiday to enable them go home and collect their PVCs given the the Independent National Electoral CommissionI (INEC) deadline.

DailySun reported that no fewer than 3.5 million students who registered for the general elections , and whose polling units are sited in states outside their campuses, may be unable to exercise their franchise.

This is because they wouldn’t be able to get to their polling places during the election because they would be stuck on their respective campuses.

Ahanotu said: “Nigerian students cum youths across the country have gone through tough and rough times over the years given to bad leadership hence the need to advocate strongly for youths participation in the coming general election to enable them take part in deciding their destiny going forward.

“Today the Youths in Nigeria wants to take part in taking back their country from those who has mismanaged our resources by contributing towards the New Nigeria agenda via the ballot, and they must not be disfranchised as many believes that a better Nigeria is Possible with Mr Peter Obi and Sen. Datti Baba-Ahmed.

“Given to the above narratives and the need to have a free, fair, credible and all-inclusive elections in 2023, I hereby categorically state that it will be highly unacceptable for such number of citizens to be denied the opportunity to cast their votes due to academic calendar.

“We call on the Federal Government, Academic Staff Unions of Universities (ASUU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), National University Commission (NUC), State Governments and other Private university owners to give one week holiday for students in higher Institutions to go home and collect their PVCs given the INEC deadline,

“We also call on the Federal Government to give automatic one week holiday for students to travel for the general elections holding on 25^th February, 2023. If ASUU could stay eight month in demand of their right, they should allow the students the space to exercise their citizenship right to vote in this coming election which is a defining moment for Nigeria.

” Because this students when they registered, were on strike and immediately after they finished registering, ASUU called off the strike for them to go back to school. It is a calculated attempt to deny us our votes. It’s is calculated attempt to deny the Obidient movement and this project of taking back Nigeria, which is for the Nigerian youths. We will not accept it. They must continue to give people their PVCs even 14 days to the election.”

Ahanotu condemned targeted attacks on LP members in various states, saying, “It has become highly necessary to passionately demand from the Nigerian Police Commands to arrest and bring to book those individuals who are perpetrating evil on fellow citizens alongside their sponsors. Recently one of our youth leaders in Lagos state was brutally attacked for pasting a campaign poster. Recall also that one of our women leaders in Kaduna was murdered in cold blood with the injured husband now amputated putting the young children under an uncertain future. Hence there is an urgent need for the Police and law enforcement agents to brace up as the election approaches in protection of our innocent citizens to avoid chaos, total breakdown of law and order across the country.

He urged all Nigerian Youths and Students to maintain peace but not to a point of foolishness as Nigeria belongs to all, and that no Nigerian is more Nigerian than others.

“A Nigerian in Lagos is a Nigeria whether Igbo, Housa, Yoruba or other tribes. We must take back our country with our PVCs come 25^th February, 2023. No more monkey dey work – baboon dey chop. The LP National Youth leader Said

He finally, urged all the Nigerian youths to vote competence, capacity, a character they can trust who is passionate about their future and someone whose political track record and antecedents reflects modern day democratic leadership. (Saturday Sun)

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