Tomorrow, Nigeria will hold presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections, while on April 11 state governor and state house of assembly polls will take place. Like many Igbo groups, the NYO has pledged its support for President Jonathan and its members resident in northern Nigerian face the possibility of physical attacks of their candidate wins. 

In 2011, when President Jonathan was declared the winner of the presidential elections, northern youths went on the rampage attacking and killing southerners for not supporting General Buhari. There had been some calls for all Igbos living in Nigeria's 19 northern states to return home for the elections buy NYO is urging its members to stay put. 

NYO national president Uzor Ifeanyi, and its publicity secretary Igwe Ude-Umanta, urged Igbo indigenes living in the north not to run back home while calling for peaceful conduct during and after the elections. They also called on the federal government to provide adequate security to protect citizens against any form of intimidation or molestation.
In a joint statement, they said: “The Ndi-Igbo youths organisation in consultation with other well meaning Igbo leaders of thought, decided to embarked on a project titled Stay back and vote. This was a sensitisation programme for Ndi-Igbo residents in the 19 northern states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

"It is in consonance with the outcome of the sensitisation programme that we convened a general assembly meeting of the various Igbo youth leaders in the north to appraise the project and also present to the general public our final position. Over 5m eligible Ndi-Igbo youth voters resident in the 19 northern states including the FCT, have resolved to stay back and vote during the forthcoming elections." 

According to the NYO, violence in northern Nigeria is targeted at Igbos to scare them not to vote during the election. However, the NYO said it believes that it must stand up to those seeking to cower Ndigbo.