‘Silence doesn’t build nations’ — Saraki asks young Nigerians to partake in voter registration

Bukola Saraki, a former president of the senate, says young people should take advantage of the ongoing continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise to get their permanent voter cards (PVCs).

In a post on X on Tuesday, Saraki said only about 26 percent of the 94 million who registered to vote in 2023 — about 24 million — came out to cast their ballots.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Tuesday that 69,376 prospective voters had pre-registered online within seven hours of the CVR opening.

The former governor of Kwara said eligible voters should not “outsource their responsibility”.

“Across Nigeria, the Continuous Voter Registration has begun, and with it comes another opportunity to shape our future together,” he said.

“In 2023, young Nigerians showed great promise, as nearly 40 percent of registered voters were between 18 and 34, and over 93 million collected their PVCs. Yet only 26.7 percent turned out to vote.

“Out of almost 94 million who registered, just about 24 million cast their ballots. That gap speaks to the silence of that demographic when it comes to decision-making, and silence does not build nations.

“Your vote is your voice. Your ballot is your power. With it, you choose leaders, you shape policies, and you decide the direction of your community, your state, and your country.

“In Kwara, the State of Harmony, the call is even clearer. Harmony survives only when everyone plays their part.

“Whether young or old, in town or village, every registration strengthens our common voice, and every vote reinforces our shared destiny.”