Abuja:Dr. Chibuzo Okereke, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, has called for legislative reforms and an expanded definition of the Federal Character principle to promote political inclusion for women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). He emphasized the need for increased political literacy at the grassroots level to ensure democratic participation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Okereke highlighted the risk of democracy losing its core values if large segments of the population are excluded from governance and electoral processes. He stressed the importance of redefining the Federal Character principle to include vulnerable groups, transcending traditional regional and ethnic quotas.
Okereke urged political parties to adopt frameworks like quota systems to foster diverse leadership and make the nomination process more accessible. He pointed out that the Labour Party offers free nomination forms for women, youths, and marginalized groups to encourage their participation in elections.
He commended Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu for his dedication to activism and voter education, urging Nigerians to view civic rights as fundamental and to engage actively in the political process. Okereke believes that increased political engagement will lead to better societal impact and governance.