YIAGA
2019 Elections: YIAGA
YIAGA
2019 Elections: YIAGA Supports 1,168 Young
Candidates
As part of YIAGA AFRICA’s work under her support to Youth
Candidates project, we are providing strategic support to young men
and women running for various position in the 2019 General
elections through the Not Too Young To Run movement. The goal of
this project is to equip youth candidates with necessary tools for
running effective political campaigns and building
communities/networks for political solidarity and advocacy.
Since the passage of the age reduction constitution amendment
into law, YIAGA AFRICA has continued to support to young candidates
across all political parties to lead a successful campaign and win
elections. Recall that we recently hosted the largest gathering of
young candidates in Nigeria to build their competence, network,
share experiences and advocate for greater representation and
credible 2019 elections.
YIAGA AFRICA has deployed a team of trainers across Nigeria to
train polling agents who will be representing young candidates at
the 2019 Governorship and state house of assembly elections. In
this vein, we have trained our cohort of trainers on the electoral
process and how to effectively train poll agents.
The team will be training at least 1,168 Poll agents
representing 241 young men and women running for state assembly
elections coming up on 9th March 2019. The team of trainers have
also been trained adequately on the election day process, legal
framework relating to party agents, rights and responsibilities of
poll agents on election day. Having also been trained on the
conduct of party agents and ethical issues on election day, YIAGA
AFRICA’s team of trainers will train poll agents on to recognize
these roles and operate within the electoral law.
As an organization we recognize the legal framework that
recognizes and allows all political parties to submit names of
their Polling Agents to the electoral commission and to deploy them
after accreditation by the commission. Section 43 (4) of the Act
entitles Polling Agents to be present at the distribution of
election materials as well as being present at the voting,
counting, collation and announcement of election results.
Also, Section 50 of the Act says: “A candidate or a Polling
Agent may challenge the right of a person to receive a ballot paper
on such grounds and in accordance with the procedures as are
provided for in this Act.” Also, according to Section 64 of the
Act, “A candidate or a Polling Agent may, where present at a
Polling Unit when counting of votes is completed by the Presiding
Officer, demand to have the votes recounted…” It is noteworthy that
the Polling Agents are also given the opportunity to countersign
results of elections and given official copies according to
Sections 63 (3) and 74 of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.
To this end, YIAGA AFRICA is committed to an effective training
of party agents who will be representing young candidates and
ensure interest of young candidates is protected and their mandate
defended effectively.
Moshood Isah
Media Officer