The Founder of Corpers’ Journey Advocacy Network (CJAN), a youth-led civic organisation, and Director of Youth Advocacy and Policy at the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ajayi Taiwo Adeola, has called on young people and serving corps members in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take the lead in promoting peaceful, issue-based participation ahead of the Area Council elections.
The elections will be conducted across the six Area Councils of the FCT, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari Area Council, Gwagwalada Area Council, Kuje Area Council, Abaji Area Council and Kwali Area Council, where chairmanship and councillor positions will be contested.
Speaking in a press statement, Ajayi emphasised that grassroots elections directly affect issues that matter most to young people, including primary healthcare services, sanitation, education infrastructure, and local economic opportunities.
According to him, youth engagement in the electoral process must extend beyond mere turnout on election day.
“Young people and corps members must understand that Area Council leadership determines the quality of community services such as primary health centres, markets, schools, and environmental sanitation, our participation must be peaceful, informed, and focused on accountability.” Ajayi said.
He urged eligible voters to prioritise candidates with clear, measurable plans for youth development, job creation, and transparent budgeting at the local level.
He also warned against vote buying, political violence, and divisive rhetoric.
Ajayi noted that corps members, while expected to remain neutral in partisan politics, have a responsibility to model civic responsibility and promote peaceful coexistence within their host communities.
“As young citizens, we must reject inducements and demand performance-driven leadership. Democracy at the grassroots shapes our daily realities more than we often realise,” he added.
The CJAN founder further called on political actors to focus their campaigns on policy issues rather than personality-based attacks, stressing that sustainable development at the local level requires competence, transparency, and community engagement.
He reaffirmed CJAN’s commitment to non-partisan advocacy and youth-centred governance monitoring beyond the election period.
CJAN, a youth-led civic organisation, advocates for increased youth participation in governance, transparency in public institutions, and improved grassroots service delivery across Nigeria.
Ajayi concluded by encouraging young voters across the FCT to exercise their civic rights peacefully and to hold elected council officials accountable after the polls.
