Youth Party Adopts Direct Voting, Digital Primaries For Restored Constituencies

The Youth Party has declared that its primary elections in the restored constituencies of Benue, Delta, Jigawa, and Kogi will use a direct voting system with electronic voting technology as part of preparations for the 2027 General Elections.

The party, which disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, stated that its National Executive Committee (NEC) had approved new guidelines to strengthen internal democracy, transparency, and compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026 (as amended), as well as regulations issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

A key aspect of the new framework is the adoption of the One Member One Vote (OMOV) system, which removes delegates and super-delegates from the nomination process. Instead, all registered members will have the right to participate directly in primaries.

The party also plans to implement electronic voting platforms, including online and SMS-based systems, to allow broader participation.

These votes will be secure, observed by candidates and INEC officials, and conducted through secret balloting in accordance with legal standards.

To support this, the party issued a timetable indicating that the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms started on 14 June and will end on 24 June 2026.

Screening of candidates and appeal hearings will occur on 24 June, with primaries and related appeals scheduled for 25 June.

Nomination forms for State House of Assembly candidates are set at N250,000, comprising N100,000 for the Expression of Interest Form and N150,000 for the Nomination Form.

Female candidates, persons with disabilities, and youth candidates under 40 will receive a 50% discount on these fees.

The party said it is committed to providing all aspirants access to its guidelines, membership register, and voters’ lists to promote fairness and equal opportunity during the selection process.

As part of election preparations, the party also announced a mandatory membership revalidation that requires members to use their National Identification Number (NIN) to verify or establish their membership. The party has a strict “No NIN, No Membership” policy.

The Youth Party urged Nigerians interested in contesting or participating in primaries to register and complete the revalidation process ahead of the upcoming elections.