The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged Nigerian youths to play a leading role in strengthening the country’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the launch of the 2026 Voter Education Manual and its youth-friendly version, in cooperation with the Kimpact Development Initiative, INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan (SAN) stated that young people continue to play an important role in the country’s democratic development.
The youth-oriented manual is intended to make civic education more accessible and relatable to Nigerian youths, a demographic vital to the credibility and vibrancy of approaching elections.
Amupitan, represented by Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, stated that the commission had updated its voter education tools to better interact with young voters using digital platforms and visual storytelling.
“To our youths who make up the majority of our registered voters, this manual was designed for you. We recognize that the 21st-century voter consumes information mostly through digital means and visual storytelling.
“We have adapted our tools to meet you where you are, transitioning from preaching at the youth to partnering with the youth. Your engagement is the primary driver of our democratic development,” Amupitan said.
He went on to say that systematic civic education has a direct positive impact on voter turnout, emphasizing that consistent enlightenment on the Electoral Act 2026 would assist close trust gaps and increase participation.
He stated that the campaign would focus on peer-to-peer involvement, as “data shows that peer-to-peer storytelling carries the highest trust equity among urban youth and rural demographics. “These corps members will make certain that no neighborhood is left behind in a narrative vacuum.”
Amupitan said that voter apathy continues to pose a significant threat to genuine elections, citing low participation in recent polls.
“A democracy populated by many indifferent citizens is a democracy in retreat,” he said.
He then assured Nigerians to trust the commission, saying, “Your votes will always count with the INEC.”
He noted that voter education remained critical to overcoming apathy.
“We are not just printing books; we are providing the democratic manual every Nigerian needs to protect their future. For too long, we have accepted a democracy where the 70% who stay at home allow the remaining 30% to decide the future for everyone. Today, with the launch of this manual, INEC is once again saying that voter apathy must be tackled headlong,” he added.
“We are not just printing books; we are providing the democratic manual every Nigerian needs to protect their future. For too long, we have accepted a democracy where the 70% who stay at home allow the remaining 30% to decide the future for everyone. Today, with the launch of this manual, INEC is once again saying that voter apathy must be tackled headlong,” he added.
Amupitan urged stakeholders, such as the National Youth Service Corps and the National Orientation Agency, as well as civil society organizations, to work together to raise public awareness ahead of the elections.
He stated that the civic education effort would send corps members across the country to encourage informed voting.
Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, described the program as both timely and smart.
“Through this, we are telling young Nigerians that grassroots strength, communal engagement, and creating a multiplier effect will endure beyond elections,” he said.
He also stated that the manuals would be integrated into the NYSC Community Development Service platform to expand voter education nationwide.
“The role of civic political education in achieving free, fair, and credible elections cannot be overstated,” Issa-Onilu said.
In his welcome remarks, KDI Team Lead Bukola Idowu stated that the organization was happy to assist INEC in revising and updating the manual.
“The youth-friendly version places young people at the center of democratic participation—not just as voters but also as educators, advocates, and change agents within their communities,” he told me.
In his remarks, Haruna raised concern about dwindling voter turnout since Nigeria’s restoration to democracy in 1999.
He stated that participation had dropped significantly, noting that turnout “plunged from a high of over 60 percent in 2003 to under 30 percent in the last general election, underscoring the urgency of renewed voter education efforts.
“It is one thing to have the right to vote, but it is another to exercise it, and yet another to know how to do so,” he said.
He clarified that the updated manual reflects recent legal and technological changes, while the simplified version targets young voters.
