2027: 9.3m New Youth Registrants, A New Force Against Old Political Order — Ex-Reps Aspirant

The registration of 9,324,349 young Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election could create a new political force capable of challenging established patterns of political participation in the country, a former aspirant for the House of Representatives, Hon. Oronsaye Robert Uyi, in Edo State has said.

The latest figure released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) represents about 25.2 per cent of the 37,060,399 voters aged 18 to 34 who were on the register for the 2023 general election.

INEC’s 2023 General Election Report showed that voters aged 18 to 34 accounted for 37,060,399, representing 39.65 per cent of the 93,469,008 registered voters for the 2023 election.

The Commission has now disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians were newly registered during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise ahead of the 2027 polls.

Reacting to the development, Uyi, who contested for the House of Representatives seat for Ovia Federal Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the growing number of young Nigerians entering the electoral register could alter the political dynamics ahead of the 2027 election.

He described the new registrants as a potential force against what he called the

“old political order,” arguing that increased youth participation could bring fresh expectations and greater scrutiny into the electoral process.

“This is a sign that Nigerian youths are awakening, and this will go a long way in positively affecting the 2027 general election,” Uyi said.

According to him, the significance of the development would depend largely on whether the newly registered youths eventually turn out to vote.

He said a large youth turnout could make electoral malpractice more difficult to conceal because of increased participation and scrutiny at polling units.

“By the time all youths come out to vote in a large number, the ease of rigging an election will be removed as the evidence will be very glaring,” he said.

Uyi also pointed to the increasing number of young people seeking elective offices across political parties, saying the development could encourage more youths to participate in the electoral process.

“Most parties are bringing out youths to contest for political offices, which is a very good way of attracting those young voters as they wish to vote for their fellow youths whom they trust and can relate with while in office,” he said.

He said the growing youth presence on the electoral register could therefore put pressure on political parties and candidates to pay greater attention to issues affecting young Nigerians.

The development comes as INEC intensifies its engagement with young voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, recently said youth participation was important to the electoral process and inaugurated Youth Ambassadors as part of efforts to deepen the Commission’s engagement with young Nigerians.

The Commission has also urged young voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate responsibly in the electoral process.

Uyi urged Nigerian youths not to stop at registration but to take the next steps required to participate in the election.
“I want to use this medium to greet my fellow youths and remind them that a better tomorrow for our country begins with them, so they should all vote wisely,” he said.