By Dayo Israel

“What do you mean you stepped down?”, “why didn’t you run again?”, ” I don’t understand, why won’t they let you become chairman with all the work you did”?

These were the kind of questions I got from colleagues, friends and young leaders after our party consensus decision during my recent Local Govt Chairmanship Aspiration.

Many young people and Christians going into Politics are totally unfamiliar with the Political party’s structures, cultures, features and loyalty systems.

Many of the new generations interested in politics can’t relate to the fact that the moment you aspire to run for election, people in your community expect you to begin to pay their bills or give them money, if you want to be taken serious.

Some can’t even imagine the idea that you most major political parties in Nigeria have a queuing CULTURE where despite your experience, passion or background, except you have a God father, you can be told to wait and queue because you just joined the party; and the ones who don’t mind giving you a ticket don’t have a grassroots STRUCTURE to deliver the vote on election day.

These are some of the lessons and knowledge that veteran politicians like Muiz Banire, Reuben Abati, Segun Mimiko, Segun Oni, Jide Omoworare, Barr Ebere Ifendu, Dele Momodu and others will share at the Emerging Political Leaders Forum in Lagos on the 7th September 2017 where over 1000 delegates will be in attendance from 9am at Eko Club in Surulere.

YOU CAN’T PLAY IN A FIELD YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND AND NEITHER CAN YOU FIGHT IN A BATTLE YOU ARE IGNORANT OF ITS DYNAMICS.

These panellists are not coming to give speeches, they are coming to share knowledge and be probed on how to survive political landmines especially for those who want to leverage on the #NOTTOOYOUNGTORUN Campaign.

The 5 Panel sessions include:

1. NOT TOO YOUNG BUT TOO BROKE TO RUN: FUNDING, FINANCING AND CROWD-FUNDING YOUR CAMPAIGN

2. BUILDING A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN STRUCTURE: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

3. HARNESSING NEW AND CONVENTIONAL MEDIA FOR GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION

4. MANAGING ISSUES OF PARTY SUPREMACY, INTERNAL DEMOCRACY, AND YOUR VISION TO LEAD

5. WINNING WITH WOMEN: LESSONS FOR FEMALE ASPIRANTS, AND MEN WHO NEEDS THE WOMEN VOTE

The Chatham House rules, the no hold barred conversation will help emerging leaders, young people and even elderly ones – literarily everyone – understand how to play Nigerian politics and party culture.

*** Register today on www.neplf.gleehdfoundation.org.ng

Event is free for everyone but registration is compulsory. The Head of the UN Office in Nigeria will also be on attendance to launch our READY RUN WIN Political Academy.