Defend Your Vote: An Explainer on the political awareness campaign being pushed by your fave celebrities

As Nigerians gear up for the presidential election coming up in days, precisely on Saturday 16th February 2019. There is an awareness making the rounds, that calls for the citizens of Nigeria to defend their votes in tune to the context of democracy. Nigerian election exercise has since been notorious for a spate of foul play, hence the bid to get all hands on deck in combating this ill.

What does “Defend Your Vote” actually entail?
Amidst series of controversy about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) working hand-in-glove with the sitting party especially since the PDP vs APC brawl in the recently concluded Osun state gubernatorial election in 2018.

The “Defend Your Vote” (DYV) movement is looking to tackle the irregularities that poses as threat towards the transparency of election exercise in Nigeria. The initiative is knee-deep in enlightening the youth on how imperative it is to be politically abreast prior to the forthcoming election against rigging and other political vices.
Defend Your Vote is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that is committed to building and equipping the youth of Nigeria with political power.

It was founded by young leaders to drive participation in politics among the youths, starting with the forthcoming 2019 Presidential elections. Defend Your Vote seems to transition the engagement of Nigerian youth in politics.

Campaigns will focus on issues that impact young Nigerians, specifically using music and technology to execute and ensure the involvement of young Nigerian registered voters, with determination to defend voting rights and boost the much needed engagement and access to democracy. It moves to educate the Nigerian youth about voting and how to demand accountability from their democracy. It’s activities range from enlightening young people on their Right To Vote, How to Vote & Why They should Vote. The answers to Frequently Asked Questions about voting are also catered for.

How Can Citizens Defend Their Vote?
The DYV initiative charges citizens to take part in shaping their future and posterity’s by being politically minded, extra vigilant by closely monitoring all electoral activities around the polling center and environ. Take important note of strange faces or moves and attempts of an unregistered person to vote. Musician Davido who has since been throwing his weight on issues around politics, recently endorsed the DYV initiative, citing that failure to exercise franchise as a citizen by defending your votes wisely would further create more problems even.

We have the power not them !! They know this but they don’t want ‘US’ to know !! All that killing , threatening and kidnapping shit because some one is speaking the truth ENDS NOW !!! #DEFENDYOURVOTE

— Davido (@iam_Davido) February 10, 2019

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This initiative further enjoins them to stay present after voting through the “collation of votes” process to ensure results are not altered.

How Does Music Come to Play in this Regard?
The power of youths in the society is unmatched and it’s believed that youths can be instrumental for change if duly mobilized and involved. Hence DYV’s core focus on the youths of Nigeria, enjoining them to actively participate in electing leaders of the country. Many youths show disinterest in elections, thereby abandoning the fate of the country in the hands of the older generation, so how exactly is the best way to garner the undivided attention of the youths and still get the message hit home? The answer is Music.

Music has since been one language to bring a bunch of young people under an umbrella and as such, DYV is leveraging this mix by enticing the youth with musical concert, accompanied with special performance from their favourite artiste. There is no monetary cost for entry into these concerts other than to mandatorily come with your PVC handy.