The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has joined fellow Nigerians in urging authorities to grant students a break to vote in the upcoming general elections. Sowore called on the Ministry of Education and the Federal Government to provide students with at least a weeklong break to facilitate their participation in the electoral process. With the election just a few weeks away, there has been considerable discussion and speculation in the political arena regarding who will ultimately secure the presidency.
It is estimated that at least 3.5 million students possess voters’ cards but may be disenfranchised due to their polling stations being located outside their educational institutions. This situation raises concerns, as many students may struggle to reach their designated polling places. Unfortunately, it appears that educational authorities in the country have not yet considered allowing registered students to take a holiday in light of the 2023 elections. This lack of action has drawn criticism from various quarters, particularly regarding the apparent indifference of tertiary institutions to the issue.
As a human rights activist and one of the contenders in the 2023 presidential race, Sowore has been advocating for significant reforms in Nigeria’s educational system. His blueprint aims for full enrollment of all children at the primary and secondary school levels, among other objectives. In a Twitter post on Thursday morning, he emphasized the importance of allowing students to vote, stating, “The Federal Govt led by @MBuhari, @inecnigeria, the ministry of education must grant Nigerian students at least a weeklong break to enable them to vote in the 2023 elections. They must be allowed to choose their leaders so they can get rid of wicked leaders #LetOurpeoplevote #SoworeMagashi2023 #WeCantContinueLikeThis.”
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