The Afenifere Youth Council of Nigeria has said it will only endorse a presidential candidate who guarantees the restructuring of the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group said restructuring remains a major issue that will determine who receives its support during the next presidential election.
It questioned the Federal Government’s claim that it is already restructuring the country, saying Nigerians have yet to see clear evidence of the impact of such reforms on their daily lives.
“As an Afenifere group, we will only endorse a candidate who guarantees the restructuring of this country. The present government says it is restructuring the system, but we are not seeing the effect of the restructuring. How is the restructuring going, and is it affecting Nigerians positively or negatively?”
The council said any political candidate seeking its endorsement must be able to provide a clear plan for restructuring and demonstrate how such reforms would improve governance and the wellbeing of Nigerians.
It stressed that restructuring should not remain a political slogan but should translate into practical changes in the country’s system of governance.
The group has consistently advocated greater devolution of powers, fiscal federalism and other constitutional reforms that would give states and other sub-national governments more responsibilities.
It also linked restructuring to the need to address Nigeria’s security challenges, economic difficulties and other issues affecting citizens.
According to the council, a more decentralised system could allow governments closer to the people to respond more effectively to challenges in their respective communities.
The group also urged young Nigerians to take a more active role in the political process ahead of the 2027 elections.
It called on eligible citizens to register, obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in the electoral process rather than leaving political decisions solely to older generations.
The council said political parties and candidates should also present clear programmes capable of addressing unemployment, insecurity, poverty, poor infrastructure and other challenges confronting Nigerians.
With political activities expected to intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, the Afenifere youth body said it would assess candidates based on their commitment to restructuring and other issues of importance to the country.
The group’s position means that candidates seeking its support will have to demonstrate how their proposed policies would bring about the structural changes it has demanded.
