Religious leaders have warned Nigerian youths against allowing politicians to use them for electoral violence in 2027 while their children school abroad.
They spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at a National Youth Assembly for Democratic Resilience organised by Global Peace Foundation Nigeria.
The assembly had the theme: “Empowering Youth Voices Against Electoral Violence” and brought together Christian and Muslim youth leaders.
Rev. Fr. Canice Enyiaka, Director, Africa Peace Initiative and Engagement, Global Peace Foundation USA, said Nigerian youths were not expendable and must not be used as disposable instruments for politicians.
He said the dignity of the Nigerian youth has become central as the nation marches toward the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the Nigerian Constitution invokes God, underscoring limits of political power, moral foundation of law and human dignity.
He said the dignity of a poor youth was same as that of the President’s son, Governor’s daughter or billionaire’s relative.
Enyiaka questioned why youths should be asked to kill or die for elections when children of politicians are studying in America and Europe.
He cited research showing that about 2,444 Nigerians died in electoral violence between 1999 and 2023.
He noted that young people were major casualties, yet no child of a politician or elite was listed among the dead.
In his keynote, Sheikh Muhammad Nuru Khalid “Digital Imam” said Nigerian youths constitute majority of population but struggle merely to live and access education.
Khalid said some youths whose parents were opportune to be in government now school abroad and never consider Nigeria good enough.
“What constitutes difference between you and them? Their parents personalised resources meant for your education,” he said.
He said same diverted resources are later used to buy youths with spaghetti, indomie and money during elections.
Khalid said vote buying is criminal under Section 121 of the Electoral Act and urged youths to understand their vote as civic duty.
He urged youths to ask politicians who come to campaign to show their children and wives.
Also speaking, Rev. Joseph Hayab, Country Director, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, said no child of poor people must die for politics.
Hayab said election should be civic process where citizens cast votes and majority wins without destroying neighbours.
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