INEC Blames Ageing, Not Apathy, For Drop In Youth Voter Share

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has attributed the decline in the proportion of young voters ahead of the 2027 general election to ageing among previously registered youths, insisting that the development does not necessarily indicate declining interest in elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, gave the explanation on Tuesday during the grand finale of the commission’s Campus Debate held at the Law Theatre, University of Abuja.

According to the commission, young people currently account for 29.79 per cent of the voters’ register being prepared for the 2027 elections, compared with 39.65 per cent recorded in the 2023 general election.

Amupitan explained that the difference was largely due to the movement of people who were classified as youths in 2023 into older age brackets.

He said, “Some questions have been asked, why has the number reduced compared to what we have in 2023? But the truth of the matter is that there has been progressive migration of the categories of persons that were youth in 2023, they have now migrated into different age groups.”

The INEC chairman noted that the current register was undergoing review through the claims and objections process.

He disclosed that the commission organised the campus debate as part of efforts to address voter apathy among young Nigerians and improve their understanding of the electoral process.

Amupitan also expressed concern over the limited knowledge of some young people about the electoral commission and its leadership, stressing the importance of sustained voter education.

The University of Jos emerged winner of the debate, while Bayero University, Kano, finished second. The University of Ibadan came third, followed by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The debate was held under the theme, “Nigeria’s Electoral Process and Democracy.”