The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tasked its new Youth Ambassadors with promoting youth sensitization and peaceful participation in the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja during the investiture of the new INEC Youth Ambassadors.
Amupitan, represented by INEC National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus, also urged the ambassadors to help combat misinformation and disinformation ahead of the elections.
He urged them to inspire young Nigerians to view the electoral process as an opportunity to shape their future.
He said young people constituted a significant segment of Nigeria’s population and the majority of registered voters, according to INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) data.
According to him, Phase One of the 2026 CVR recorded 2,611,266 newly registered youths, while Phase Two recorded 4,110,123.
He said Phase Three recorded 2,602,960 newly registered youths, bringing the cumulative total to 9,324,349.
“This figure reinforces the critical role of active youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process, which helps shape electoral outcomes and strengthen public confidence.
“Their voices, ideas, energy and participation are essential to the development and sustenance of our democracy.
“For this reason, the Commission considers meaningful youth engagement not as an option, but as a vital component of our electoral responsibilities,” he said.
Amupitan described the appointment of the ambassadors as a deliberate step towards strengthening the relationship between INEC and young citizens.
“We believe youth are more likely to engage with electoral information when communicated through credible, relatable, and influential voices within their communities,” he said.
He congratulated the ambassadors, saying their selection reflected confidence in their ability to drive positive change.
He urged them to discharge their responsibilities with dedication and humility while promoting civic awareness, peaceful participation, and democratic development.
He said, “Your position requires you to uphold values of integrity, impartiality, inclusiveness, respect and responsible citizenship.
“You are expected to represent the ideals of credible elections and promote participation without partisan bias.
“Whether through social media, community engagement, music, entertainment, education, sports or entrepreneurship, your influence can make electoral information accessible to youth.”
Earlier, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Board of the Electoral Institute (BEI), said young Nigerians possessed numerical strength.
He said available CVR data showed that 7.48 million, representing 69.48 per cent, of approximately 10.77 million new registrants were aged 18 to 34.
Ajayi clarified that the figures were recorded before the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) was applied to remove multiple and underage registrations.
“These figures demonstrate the considerable numerical strength of young Nigerians within the electoral population.
“That strength gives them the capacity to influence participation and electoral outcomes,” Ajayi said.
He, however, said numbers alone were insufficient unless young people were informed, organised and responsibly engaged.
“The question is not only how many young Nigerians are registered to vote, but how many understand their rights and responsibilities.
“How many will participate, resist manipulation, reject violence, and verify information before sharing it?” he asked
Ajayi cautioned the ambassadors against the manipulation of young people for electoral violence.
He urged them to tell their peers not to allow political actors to exploit their youth against their future.
“Political competition should never require young Nigerians to fight, destroy, or kill one another,” he said.
He also urged the ambassadors to combat fake news by adopting the principle: “Verify before you amplify.”
Ajayi charged them to serve as a two-way bridge between INEC and young Nigerians by communicating messages and relaying feedback.
“You are not expected to defend INEC from legitimate criticism. Democracy allows citizens to question institutions.
“Your responsibility is to help ensure that criticism is informed, disagreement does not turn into violence, and political participation does not become manipulation,” he said.
The new INEC Youth Ambassadors are Alex Ibeh, Emmanuel Ikubese, Mike Goodson, Christopher Yohanna, Amal Umar, Seun Ajayi, Thompson Ukeki, Ibrahim Bello and Sunday Agbaji.
