The Independent National Electoral Commission has urged Nigerian youths to take an active role in strengthening democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Abuja during the launch of the 2026 Voter Education Manual and its youth-friendly version, organised with the Kimpact Development Initiative, INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan (SAN), emphasised that young people are key to the nation’s democratic growth.
The youth-focused manual aims to make civic education more accessible and engaging for young Nigerians, who are vital to credible elections.
Represented by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, Amupitan said the commission had updated its voter education approach to better connect with young voters through digital platforms and visual storytelling.
“To our youths who make up the majority of our registered voters, this manual was designed for you. We recognise 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 noted that structured civic education boosts voter turnout and said continuous awareness of the Electoral Act 2026 would help build trust and increase participation.
According to him, the initiative will use peer-to-peer engagement, as “data shows that peer-to-peer storytelling carries the highest trust equity among urban youth and rural demographics. These corps members will ensure that no community is left behind in a narrative vacuum”.
Amupitan warned that voter apathy remains a major threat to credible elections, pointing to low turnout in recent polls.
“A democracy populated by many indifferent citizens is a democracy in retreat,” he said.
He reassured Nigerians of the commission’s commitment, stating that, “Wth INEC, your votes will always count”.
He added that voter education is crucial to addressing 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.
Amupitan also called for collaboration among stakeholders such as the National Youth Service Corps, the National Orientation Agency, and civil society groups to boost awareness ahead of the elections.
He said corps members would be deployed nationwide to encourage informed participation in the electoral process.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the initiative as timely and strategic.
“Through this, we are telling young Nigerians that grassroots strength, communal engagement, and creating a multiplier effect will endure beyond elections,” he said.
He added that the manuals would be incorporated into the NYSC Community Development Service to widen voter education.
“The role of civic political education in achieving free, fair, and credible elections cannot be overstated,” Issa-Onilu said.
KDI Team Lead, Bukola Idowu, said the group was pleased to support INEC in updating the manual.
“The youth-friendly version places young people at the centre of democratic participation—not just as voters but also as educators, advocates, and change agents within their communities,” he said.
Haruna also expressed concern over declining voter turnout since 1999, noting that participation dropped from over 60 per cent in 2003 to under 30 per cent in the last general election.
“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 added that the revised manual reflects recent legal and technological changes, while the simplified version is tailored to young voters.
