We Registered 9.3 Million Young Nigerians Ahead of 2027 Elections – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 9,324,349 young Nigerians were newly registered during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercises ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the investiture of new and returning INEC Youth Ambassadors. He was represented at the event by National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus.

Amupitan said the figure highlighted the growing importance of youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process, noting that young people play a critical role in shaping electoral outcomes and strengthening public confidence in democracy.

He explained that the appointment of the ambassadors was aimed at strengthening INEC’s engagement with young Nigerians and encouraging greater participation in the electoral process.

According to him, young people are more likely to engage with electoral information when it is communicated through credible and relatable voices within their communities and social networks.

The INEC chairman charged the ambassadors to use their influence to promote voter education, peaceful participation and responsible citizenship. He also urged them to counter electoral misinformation and encourage young Nigerians to participate actively in the democratic process while upholding integrity and impartiality.

In his welcome address, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Outreach and Partnership Committee, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, urged the ambassadors to speak out against electoral violence and manipulation.

Ajayi also called on young Nigerians to reject attempts to involve them in activities that could endanger their lives or disrupt the electoral process.
He emphasised the importance of verifying information before sharing it, warning that false election-related claims could spread rapidly online before corrections were issued.

Similarly, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, represented by the Deputy Director of the Network and Social Mobilisation Department, Mrs. Lami Bature, urged the ambassadors to promote electoral awareness, peaceful participation and respect for the rule of law.

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Oniru, represented by the Director of Civic Values and Democracy Education, Dr. Olukemi Afolayan, also called on the ambassadors to promote civic responsibility, electoral integrity and peaceful participation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Providing an overview of the initiative, the Director of INEC’s Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs. Lakunuya Bello, said the Youth Ambassadors Initiative was established in 2014 to connect the commission with young Nigerians through influential and credible youth figures.

She said the initiative was being strengthened ahead of the 2027 general elections to reach young and first-time voters through youth-friendly platforms while addressing misinformation, hate speech and electoral violence.

The nine ambassadors, drawn from the entertainment industry, include Amal Umar, Christopher Yohanna, popularly known as Uncle CY; Alex Kool Ibeh, known as Mr Kool; Mike Godson; Emmanuel Ikubese; Seun Ajayi; Ibrahim Tukur Bello, also known as Disability Is Not Inability; Sunday Agbaji; and Ambassador Thompson Ukeki.
The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates, plaques and ambassadorial mufflers, alongside the administration of the Oath of Commitment.

Meanwhile, INEC presented the Certificate of Return to Hon. Kallamu MaiJama’a, winner of the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election held on September 19, 2026.

The certificate was presented on Wednesday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja by the National Commissioner supervising Gombe State, Rear Admiral Jamila Abubakar Sadiq Malafa.
MaiJama’a commended INEC for conducting the election, describing the exercise as free, fair and credible.