2027 Election: 9.3m Young Nigerians Register As INEC Unveils Youth Ambassadors

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians registered as voters during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), highlighting the significant presence of young people in the electorate ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The Commission made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja during the investiture of nine new and returning INEC Youth Ambassadors.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, represented by National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the registration figure reinforced the importance of youth participation in the electoral process.

Amupitan said the active involvement of young Nigerians was important to strengthening democratic participation and public confidence in the electoral process.

He explained that the Youth Ambassadors initiative was designed to strengthen the Commission’s relationship with young Nigerians by deploying credible and relatable voices to communicate electoral information through communities and social networks.

The chairman charged the ambassadors to promote voter education, peaceful participation and responsible citizenship, while using their platforms to counter electoral misinformation and encourage young Nigerians to engage in the democratic process.

He also urged them to maintain integrity and impartiality in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Outreach and Partnership Committee, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, tasked the ambassadors with speaking out against electoral violence and manipulation.

Ajayi urged young Nigerians to reject attempts to use them for activities that could endanger their lives or undermine the electoral process.

He also stressed the importance of verifying information before sharing it, particularly online.

“Verify before you amplify,” Ajayi told the ambassadors, warning that false election-related information could spread rapidly before corrections reach the public.

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Emmanuel Olawande, represented by Deputy Director, Network and Social Mobilisation Department, Mrs Lami Bature, urged the ambassadors to promote electoral awareness, peaceful participation and responsible citizenship.

Similarly, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Oniru, represented by Dr Olukemi Afolayan, urged the ambassadors to promote civic responsibility, electoral integrity and peaceful participation.

The Director of INEC’s Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the Youth Ambassadors Initiative was established in 2014 to connect the Commission with young Nigerians through credible and influential youth figures.

She said the initiative was being strengthened ahead of the 2027 election to reach young and first-time voters through youth-friendly platforms, while addressing misinformation, hate speech and electoral violence.

The nine ambassadors drawn from the movie, music and comedy industries 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, Sunday Agbaji and Ambassador Thompson Ukeki.

The investiture featured the presentation of certificates, plaques and ambassadorial mufflers, as well as the administration of the Oath of Commitment.

INEC Presents Certificate Of Return To Gombe Member Elect

Meanwhile, INEC has presented a Certificate of Return to Hon. Kallamu MaiJama’a, winner of the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election held on September 19, 2026.

The certificate was presented by the National Commissioner supervising Gombe State, Rear Adm. Jamila Abubakar Sadiq Malafa, Mni, OFR (Rtd.), at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

MaiJama’a commended INEC for conducting the election, describing the exercise as free, fair and credible.