Guber Poll: ICPC warns youths against vote buying, violence in Kogi

<p>Youths in Kogi State have been warned to desist from vote buying and violence before, during and after the forthcoming governorship election in the state.</p>, <p>The Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), Ulu James Okoro gave the warning on Wednesday at a Kogi Youth town hall meeting, where the Charter of Demand by Kogi youths was also presented to gubernatorial candidates in the state.</p>, <p>Represented by the agency’s Principal Superintendent of Operations, Sikpi Nathaniel, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner noted that the ICPC, pursuant to its mandate of eradicating corruption in the country will be fully involved in curbing electoral corruption in the forthcoming elections.</p>, <p>“You may be aware that operatives of the Commission with other security agencies were on ground to monitor vote buying and voter suppression in the last election.</p>, <p>“In the process, arrests were made and their biometrics were taken and sent to the National Control Centre for further action.</p>, <p>“We promise that we will again deploy all available resources to monitor all forms of corrupt practices during the November 11 governorship elections. Be a good Kogite, be patriotic and distance yourselves from any electoral malfeasance and have your peace of mind.</p>, <p>Okoro, however, admonished youths in Kogi to eschew violence and do away with sentiments while making a choice on who should govern them for the next four years.</p>, <p>The ICPC boss said, “As at 25th August, 2022, Nigeria’s population was estimated at 217,079,601, with the youths accounting for 70 percent of the 217 million, which stood at 151 million.</p>, <p>”42 percent of the 70 percent are under the age of 15. With this data, one can boldly say that Nigeria’s economic growth or doom, relies solely on the youth population. The youths, if left unskilled, and unproductive, will cause a great burden for the society which is already happening in different ways across geopol