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Don't Discourage Youths With Exorbitant Fees, Uduaghan Charges Political Parties

“Our political parties should lower their fees for expression of interest form for youths," Uduaghan stated.

To encourage youth participation in the 2019 elections, the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has charged political parties in the country to slash fees for expression of interest form.

He also noted that the only way to actualise the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill, which was recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, is for Nigerian youths to support their peers who express interest in political positions.

Uduaghan, an aspirant for Delta South Senatorial seat, gave the charge during the weekend, while delivering a speech at the 2018 Political Youth Conference, organised by the Core Delta Youth organisation, as part of activities to mark the International Youth Day. The event held at the Government House annex, Warri.

Challenging the youths to make 2019 a testing ground for the Not-Too-Young-To-Run campaign, he stated that if youths are eager to embrace “Changing the Old Narrative in a Young and Dynamic Socio-Political World,” they should support their colleagues.

He tasked youths to borrow a leaf from young Presidents like Emmanuel Macron, and enjoined them to register in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

“When young people stand for elections, they don’t enjoy the support of fellow youths. They are still the ones that try to bring their fellow youths down. Any youth standing for election must focus on mobilising the youth, instead of running down older candidates.

“Our political parties should lower their fees for expression of interest form for youths, especially ahead of the 2019 general election, because without it, the campaign for Not-Too-Young-To-Run, which was recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari will be a mirage. 2019 will be a testing ground for young people seeking to lead.”

Earlier in his opening address, the Coordinator of Core Delta Youth, Uyero Erarawewho, charged youths to shun violence. He also urged them to say no to the nefarious bidding of politicians interested in heating up the polity.

"We can only change the old narratives if we stand up as youths to engage ourselves positively in politics, as we make up 65 per cent of the electorate. We have to be relevant and that is what Core Delta Youth stands for: being committed to good governance and 30 per cent inclusion of youths in government,” Erarawewho stated.

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Politics