INEC Registers 9.3m Youths Ahead Of 2027 Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that more than 9.32 million young Nigerians were newly registered during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general election.

The commission said the development underscored the growing participation of young Nigerians in the electoral process and the importance of sustained voter engagement ahead of the polls.

INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figure on Wednesday in Abuja at the investiture of nine INEC Youth Ambassadors.

Amupitan, who was represented at the event by a National Commissioner, Prof Rhoda Gumus, said the registration figure demonstrated the critical role of young Nigerians in the country’s electoral process.

According to him, increased youth participation could contribute to shaping electoral outcomes and strengthening public confidence in the democratic process.

He said the appointment of the nine Youth Ambassadors was part of the commission’s efforts to improve its engagement with young Nigerians and ensure that electoral information reaches them through credible and relatable voices.

“The appointment of these distinguished young Nigerians as INEC Youth Ambassadors is therefore a deliberate step towards strengthening the connection between the Commission and the youth population,” he said.

Amupitan explained that young people were more likely to engage with electoral information when such information was communicated through credible voices within their communities and social networks.

He urged the ambassadors to use their platforms to promote voter awareness, encourage peaceful and responsible participation, counter electoral misinformation and mobilise young Nigerians to take an active interest in the democratic process.

The INEC chairman also charged the ambassadors to uphold integrity, impartiality and responsible citizenship in carrying out their roles.

The nine ambassadors are drawn from the movie, music and comedy industries.

They include returning ambassadors who have served the commission for more than a decade, as well as newly appointed ambassadors.

They are Amal Umar, Christopher Yohanna, popularly known as Uncle CY, Alex Kool Ibeh, also known as Mr Kool, Mike Godson, Emmanuel Ikubese, Seun Ajayi, Ibrahim Tukur Bello, popularly known as Disability Is Not Inability, Sunday Agbaji and Ambassador Thompson Ukeki.

The development comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general election, with youth participation expected to remain a significant component of the electoral process.

In a related development, the commission on Wednesday presented the Certificate of Return to Hon. Kallamu MaiJama’a, winner of the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election conducted on September 19, 2026.

The National Commissioner supervising Gombe State, Rear Admiral Jamila Abubakar Sadiq Malafa (retd), presented the certificate to MaiJama’a at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The presentation followed the declaration of MaiJama’a as winner of the bye-election by INEC.