Young political actors and civil society representatives have called for urgent reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process and expand youth participation.
The demand was made during a Youth Constituency Townhall Meeting on Electoral Reform Priority Recommendations held in Kaduna on Thursday, December 9, 2025, where speakers highlighted gaps in voter registration, result transmission, and political inclusion.
The event was organised by JESZ Development Foundation (JDEV), supported by the Canadian Funds for Local Initiative, in partnership with Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).
Speaking at the event, Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kaduna State Chapter, Abubakar Umar, emphasised that Nigeria’s electoral success depends heavily on young people, who make up more than 70 per cent of the population.
Abubakar said the youth must not only participate in voting but also play central roles in the management of the electoral and electioneering processes.
“The electoral process should be managed by the youth. The voting population is largely youth, and when elections succeed, the benefit goes to the youth, and when it fails, the consequences also fall on them,” he said.
He added that the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act continues to shape Nigeria’s political landscape, noting that more young people between ages 18 and 29 are contesting and winning elections.
“It is still making a strong impact. Young people are entering leadership positions, and this is healthy for our democracy,” he said.
Abubakar explained that while youth inclusion is critical, some aspects of electoral management remain constitutionally within the powers of the executive, including the appointment of the INEC Chairman.
“Certain powers are vested in the executive and may remain so until our democracy evolves further,” he said.
Executive Director, JDEV, Ms. Zigwai Ayuba, stressed that ongoing electoral reforms must reflect the voices and priorities of young Nigerians.
She said youth organisations had developed five key recommendations for lawmakers, including the need to properly define and implement continuous voter registration (CVR).
“Every day a young Nigerian turns 18. They should be able to register immediately. If voter registration is not continuous, we need a clear interpretation that makes it truly continuous,” she said.
Ayuba also called for immediate implementation of electronic transmission of results and insisted that all electoral litigations must be concluded before the swearing-in of elected officials to prevent prolonged political crises.
She stated that the coalition hoped the National Assembly and State Assemblies would adopt youth-driven priorities that show young Nigerians’ commitment to improving the country’s democracy.
On his part, Development Consultant, Auwal Muhktar Suraj Esq, argued that electoral reform is essential because each election cycle exposes technical and operational weaknesses.
“Our elections have suffered from inconsistencies like technical, technological, and operational. Reforms are a necessary tool to correct these lapses,” he said.
He urged the government to address major issues such as vote buying, insecurity at polling units, and technological failures, especially the controversies surrounding the electronic transmission of results during the 2023 elections.
Auwal added that youth inclusion is non-negotiable.
“Youths are the backbone of society. They vote, they campaign, and they make up the majority. So, if we want real progress, young people must be brought into governance,” he added.
Dan Zaki Media 