The Arewa Youth Consultative Movement and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Movement, in separate statements on Thursday, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for reappointing Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The two groups described Yakubu’s appointment as an opportunity for the INEC boss to prepare adequately in order to deliver credible general elections in 2023.

The northern youths described the reappointment as a giant step forward, in a statement titled, ‘Arewa Youth Consultative Movement Hails President Buhari over Reappointment of INEC Chairman’ and signed by its President, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf.

The statement read in part, “In the last five years, there is no doubt that the quality of our elections has improved tremendously and this reappointment will only lead to a consolidation of the efforts thus far. The INEC Chairman will not have excuses to render to Nigerians if he fails to deliver credible polls in 2023.”

The group appealed to both local and international partners, donors and other stakeholders to assist in strengthening our electoral process to consolidate democracy.

In a similar statement titled. ‘Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Movement Lauds Mahmood Yakubu’s Reappointment’, signed by its President-General, Ochiagha Nnadi, the Igbo youths noted that the INEC under Yakubu’s leadership had shown a level of improvement with the recent conduct of governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.

The statement read in part, “We, therefore, urge the chairman to begin in earnest to lay foundations for very credible, free and fair 2023 general elections.”