The Arewa Youth Leaders Forum has called on the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to safeguard the integrity of the election process for the Sixth Session of the Nigeria Youth Parliament (NYP).
In a statement on Sunday, signed by Comrade Hussain Abubakar,
National Coordinator, Arewa Youth Leaders Forum, the Forum said it is a matter of concern that a former speaker of the Benue State Youth Parliament, Hon. Rachel Tyona, has been making claims about her imminent election as Speaker of the Sixth Session.
The statement read: “The leadership of the Arewa Youth Leaders Forum wishes to emphasize the foundational purpose of the Nigeria Youth Parliament (NYP) as a platform for leadership training for Nigerian youths.
“This platform is essential for nurturing and promoting credible, competent young leaders who can contribute positively to the nation’s future. It is vital that only those with the requisite skills and integrity are entrusted with leadership roles within the Youth Parliament to ensure its success and credibility.
“We use this opportunity to call on the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to safeguard the integrity of the election process for the Sixth Session of the NYP.
“It has come to our attention that an individual, Hon. Rachel Tyona, a former speaker of the Benue State Youth Parliament, has been making claims about her imminent election as Speaker of the Sixth Session.
“This is concerning, as she seems to be leveraging her position within the Honourable Minister’s office as a support staff to boost her chances.
“There are even reports that she has been publicly associating herself with the Honourable Minister, suggesting that he is her primary sponsor. This situation calls for careful scrutiny to prevent any undue influence or bias from affecting the election process.
“As of today, Hon. Rachel Tyona has not been nominated to represent Benue West in the Nigeria Youth Parliament. This raises serious questions about the credibility of her claims to contest for the Speaker’s position in the upcoming session.
“How can someone, who is not even officially a member of the Parliament, be so confident in her candidacy for such a critical leadership role? This scenario undermines the integrity of the selection process and threatens to compromise the fair and transparent elections that the Youth Parliament stands for.”
The Forum added: “We urge all nominated members of the Sixth Session of the Nigeria Youth Parliament to remain vigilant and guard against any attempts to manipulate the process.
“The integrity of the Parliament’s elections must be upheld, and no individual should be allowed to distort or compromise the proceedings for personal gain. It is crucial that every nominated member is given an equal opportunity to participate in the process without external influence or favoritism.
“Additionally, we call on all officials from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and staff members of the National Assembly who are tasked with overseeing the inauguration and leadership elections of the Sixth Session of the NYP to remain impartial and transparent throughout the process. Any form of manipulation or favoritism must be swiftly addressed to ensure a fair outcome.
“In line with this, we also request that the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, take immediate action to correct any behavior from Hon. Rachel Tyona that could undermine the credibility of the process.
“The integrity of the Nigeria Youth Parliament is paramount, and it is the collective responsibility of all involved to ensure that the leadership elections are free from external influence, manipulation, or any form of bias. Let us all work together to create an environment that fosters fairness, equality, and accountability in the youth leadership process, ensuring that only the most qualified individuals emerge to represent the Nigerian youth.”