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) exercises, highlighting the growing role of youths in the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed the figure on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in Abuja, at the investiture of nine returning and newly appointed INEC Youth Ambassadors (IYAs). He was represented at the ceremony by National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus.
Amupitan said the number of newly registered young voters underscored the importance of youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process and their potential role in shaping electoral outcomes and strengthening public confidence in democracy.
“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 INEC chairman said the appointment of the Youth Ambassadors was a deliberate effort to strengthen the Commission’s engagement with young Nigerians and broaden their participation in the electoral process.
He said young people were more likely to engage with electoral information when it was communicated through credible, relatable and influential voices within their communities and social networks.
Amupitan urged the ambassadors to use their platforms to raise voter awareness, promote peaceful and responsible participation, counter electoral misinformation and encourage young Nigerians to play an active role in the country’s democratic process.
He also charged them to uphold integrity, impartiality and responsible citizenship in the discharge of their duties.
In his welcome address, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Outreach and Partnership Committee (OPC), Prof. Kunle Ajayi, urged the ambassadors to speak out against electoral violence and manipulation.
Ajayi called on young Nigerians to protect their future and resist being used for activities that could endanger their lives or disrupt the electoral process.
He also urged the ambassadors to promote accurate electoral information and responsible online engagement, warning that misinformation could spread rapidly before corrections reached the same audience.
“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, Hon. Ayodele Emmanuel Olawande, represented by the Deputy Director, Network and Social Mobilisation Department, Mrs Lami Bature, urged the ambassadors to promote electoral awareness, peaceful participation and responsible citizenship.
She also called on them to support efforts against misinformation, disinformation and electoral violence while upholding integrity, impartiality and respect for the rule of law.
Similarly, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Oniru, represented by the Director, Civic Values and Democracy Education, Dr Olukemi Afolayan, urged the ambassadors to use their influence to promote civic responsibility, electoral integrity and peaceful participation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Giving an overview of the Youth Ambassadors Initiative, the Director, Gender and Inclusivity (G&I) Department, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the programme was established in 2014 to connect INEC with young Nigerians through credible and influential youth figures.
According to her, the ambassadors promote voter education, informed and peaceful participation and responsible digital engagement.
She said the initiative was being strengthened ahead of the 2027 General Election to reach young and first-time voters through youth-friendly platforms while addressing misinformation, hate speech and electoral violence.
The Deputy Director, Inclusivity, Haj. Habiba Abdulkareem Jatto, said the investiture was aimed at strengthening INEC’s partnership with influential young Nigerians and promoting greater youth participation in the democratic process.
The nine ambassadors, drawn from the movie, music and comedy industries, include returning ambassadors who have served the Commission for more than a decade as well as newly appointed members.
They are Amal Umar, Christopher Yohanna (Uncle CY), Alex Kool Ibeh (Mr Kool), Mike Godson, Emmanuel Ikubese, Seun Ajayi, Ibrahim Tukur Bello (Disability Is Not Inability), Sunday Agbaji and Ambassador Thompson Ukeki.
The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates, plaques and ambassadorial mufflers, as well as the administration of the Oath of Commitment.
