The Free Countrywide Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians newly registered during the 2026 Continuing Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
The commission said the figure underscored the growing importance of youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral handle alongside ahead of the 2027 comprehensive elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at an event organised to perfect the commission’s engagement including young Nigerians.
Amupitan, who was represented by the Statewide Commissioner, Prof Rhoda Gumus, said engaged youth participation was important to strengthening democracy and society confidence in the electoral handle together with.
“This figure reinforces the essential role of engaged youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process, which furthermore helps in shaping electoral outcomes and strengthening people confidence in the democratic analyze,” he said.
He said the commission was taking steps to deepen its engagement alongside young Nigerians and secure that electoral facts reached them throughout credible and relatable channels.
According to him, young humans have an necessary role to play in shaping the country’s democratic forthcoming and should be encouraged to take portion peacefully and responsibly in the electoral procedure.
He urged young Nigerians to acquire accurate electoral facts, contribute in elections and deny activities competent of undermining the democratic procedure.
The chairman moreover called for larger efforts to counter electoral misinformation and urged stakeholders effective including young humans to support integrity, impartiality and responsible citizenship.
As component of its efforts to improve youth participation, INEC unveiled nine recent and returning Youth Ambassadors at the Abuja event.
The initiative is aimed at applying credible and influential young Nigerians to promote voter education, peaceful participation and responsible web-based engagement ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Nationwide Commissioner and Chairman of the Outreach and Alliance Committee (OPC), Prof Kunle Ajayi, cautioned young Nigerians against allowing themselves to be used for activities that could endanger their lives or disrupt the electoral analyze.
Ajayi moreover urged the ambassadors to encourage right electoral resource, notably on social media.
“Facts now travels rapidly, and a invalid assert regarding an election can extend to thousands of humans in advance of a correction is issued. I consequently question every Youth Ambassador to adopt a fundamental discipline: authenticate in advance of you amplify,” he said.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Emmanuel Olawande, represented by the Deputy Administrator, Network and Social Mobilisation Department, Mrs Lami Bature, urged young Nigerians to support peaceful participation, responsible citizenship and electoral awareness.
Similarly, the Supervisor-Extensive of the Domestic Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Oniru, represented by the Administrator, Civic Values and Democracy Education, Dr Olukemi Afolayan, urged the ambassadors to utilize their platforms to support civic responsibility, electoral integrity and peaceful participation.
The nine ambassadors, drawn from the movie, music and comedy industries, comprise returning ambassadors who have served the commission for extra than a decade and newly appointed members.
They are Amal Umar, Christopher Yohanna, popularly familiar as Uncle CY; Alex Kool Ibeh (Mr Kool); Mike Godson; Emmanuel Ikubese; Seun Ajayi; Ibrahim Tukur Bello (Disability Is Not Inability); Sunday Agbaji; and Ambassador Thompson Ukeki.
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