Youths task ECOWAS on credible elections

West African youths have said that ECOWAS would be held responsible for the outcome of elections in five countries if the community fails to improve the electoral process in the region.

The message was delivered by the President of the Global Association of West African Youths, (Gloway) Baruga Abdullahi Ibrahim, at the 2014 end of year appraisal summit held in Abuja, recently.

Speaking on behalf of the youths, Ibrahim tasked ECOWAS to act beyond the capability of mere observers by scrutinising, evaluating and analysing the resolve of the respective leaders of the affected states for a level playing ground.

Stressing that this year’s elections would be used as a yardstick for assessing ECOWAS’ commitment to the region, Ibrahim urged the Government of Guinea, Cote D’ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Togo to give necessary cooperation to their respective election commissions to guarantee electoral credibility.

The youths alleged that ECOWAS’ planned 40th anniversary celebration this year was a deliberate attempt to shift attention away from the contentious issues of election in its five member states.

The youths decried the act of using them as political tools of violence, calling on West African youths not to compromise their future. Ibrahim said: “We must keep the wolf from the door to get nothing short of corruptionfree generation. Our quest for unity, peace, and progress is not negotiable.”

He revealed that over 200 youth organisations across West Africa had been mobilised by Gloway to register their willingness to sacrifice for democracy, describing the move as a sign of significant progress made in the political level in the sub region