Tanimu Turaki, national chairman of the Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, has urged Nigerians to vote for responsible candidates in 2027.

Mr Turaki said this in a statement by Ini Ememobong, spokesperson for the faction working committee on Monday.

Mr Turaki spoke at a colloquium organised to mark Governor Bala Mohammed’s 68th birthday anniversary. He said the quality of candidates elected would determine the calibre of leaders Nigeria would have in the next democratic cycle.

“It is often said that a country has the leaders it deserves. That is true because they don’t become leaders except we choose them. Some actively vote for bad leaders, while others refuse to vote, thereby still allowing bad leadership to emerge.

“We must not vote in exchange for spaghetti, rice, money or any other inducements. We must vote according to the capacity of the candidates to offer quality representation and contribute to national development,” he said.

Mr Turaki said Nigeria had previously produced leaders, particularly legislators, who provided effective and responsible representation for their constituents.

“A weak legislature is not good for our country, as there will be no effective checks and balances,” he said.

He commended the organisers for allowing participants to exchange ideas, review the past, and plan for the future.

Mr Turaki also reiterated the need for greater youth participation in politics and governance.

“Young people must be consciously engaged in the process of politics and governance, as integral parts of the process, and not just as decoration or a statistic.

“We must stop saying that youths are the leaders of tomorrow. When will that tomorrow come? Young people are the greatest stakeholders of the future, and that future cannot be discussed or planned in their absence,” he said.

Mr Turaki commended the governor for making youth inclusion a priority of his administration, saying it was evident in his choice of preferred successor.

“We cannot keep leaving the owners of the future out of the room when we are planning the future,” he said.

(NAN)