The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians newly registered as voters during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, as the commission intensified efforts to deepen youth participation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the investiture of nine returning and newly appointed INEC Youth Ambassadors. He was represented by National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus.
Amupitan said the registration figure underscored the growing importance of young Nigerians in the electoral process, stressing that their active participation was critical to strengthening democracy and public confidence in elections.
“This figure reinforces the critical role of active youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process, which also helps in shaping electoral outcomes and strengthening public confidence in the democratic process,” he said.
The chairman said the appointment of the ambassadors was a deliberate effort to strengthen INEC’s connection with young Nigerians by using credible and influential voices to communicate electoral information through communities and social networks.
He charged the ambassadors to promote voter awareness, peaceful and responsible participation, counter electoral misinformation and encourage young Nigerians to take an active interest in the democratic process.
He also urged them to uphold integrity, impartiality and responsible citizenship in the discharge of their duties.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Outreach and Partnership Committee, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, urged the ambassadors to speak against electoral violence and manipulation, warning young Nigerians against being used to disrupt the electoral process.
Ajayi also tasked them with promoting accurate electoral information and responsible online engagement.
“Information now travels rapidly, and a false claim about an election can reach thousands of people before a correction is issued. I therefore ask every Youth Ambassador to adopt a simple discipline: verify before you amplify,” he said.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Emmanuel Olawande, represented by Deputy Director, Network and Social Mobilisation Department, Mrs Lami Bature, and the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Oniru, represented by Dr Olukemi Afolayan, similarly urged the ambassadors to promote civic responsibility, peaceful participation and accurate electoral information.
The Director, Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the INEC Youth Ambassadors Initiative, established in 2014, was designed to connect the commission with young Nigerians through credible and influential youth figures.
She said the initiative was being strengthened ahead of the 2027 election to reach young and first-time voters through youth-friendly platforms while addressing misinformation, hate speech and electoral violence.
The nine ambassadors are Amal Umar, Christopher Yohanna, popularly known as Uncle CY, Alex Kool Ibeh, Mr Kool, Mike Godson, Emmanuel Ikubese, Seun Ajayi, Ibrahim Tukur Bello (Disability Is Not Inability), Sunday Agbaji and Thompson Ukeki.
The investiture featured the presentation of certificates, plaques and ambassadorial mufflers, as well as the administration of the Oath of Commitment.
