Zaaki Azzay: How #EndSARS protest will influence today’s election

Zaaki Azzay, the ace singer, says he believes the #EndSARS protest in 2020 will influence the outcome of the Nigerian presidential election today.  

In October 2020, Nigerian youths took to the streets to protest against police brutality. They also called for the disbandment of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS).

In a chat with TheCable Lifestyle, the ace musician said the widespread demonstration has made the youth more sensitive to political issues.

Azzay said the protest also delivered Nigeria from a “major chaos,” adding that the way “our leaders now make decisions have changed by 70 per cent.”

The musician said politicians are now very aware of the power the youth command, “so they’re careful.”

TheCable Lifestyle earlier reported that the youth account for the majority of registered voters ahead of the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) earlier revealed that there are over 93.4 million registered voters in Nigeria.

A breakdown of the figure by TheCable Index, the data arm of TheCable, showed that youths aged 18 to 34 make up the majority by age with a figure of 37,060,399 — representing 39.66 percent of the voters.

Going by the above figures, youths indeed have the numbers to decide who will be Nigeria’s next president.

In the interview, Azzay said: “#EndSars protest to me is one of the best things that has ever happened to Nigeria. I participated in it for four days. I held the Abuja side of it for four days. I have it all in clips. But I can guarantee you that the way politicians and our leaders now make decisions have changed by 70 per cent.

“Now, they have seen how powerful the Nigerian youth is. So they’re careful. Don’t worry after the election you will see the people that will be the ministers, commissioners. You will see a lot of youth involvement in it. It wasn’t like that.

“Before they don’t take us seriously. But after the EndSars, in fact, may God rest the soul of all those we lost in that EndSars protest. Because to me, the EndSars protest is really what has saved Nigeria.

“EndSars, you may not know, directly or indirectly has saved Nigeria from collapsing. Because our leaders are all awaken now and Nigerians are more sensitive to political issues now after EndSars.

“EndSars delivered Nigeria from a major chaos.”

Nigerians will go to the polls today to elect a new president. A total of 18 candidates will participate in the presidential election.

The four candidates leading the race for the election.

They include Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).