INEC says 9.3 million young Nigerians completed fresh voter registration during the 2026 CVR exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 9,324,349 young Nigerians completed fresh voter registration during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figure in Abuja during an engagement organised by the commission to deepen its engagement with young Nigerians.
Amupitan, who was represented by INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the number of young people who registered demonstrated their growing role in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“This figure reinforces the critical role of active youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process, which also helps in shaping electoral outcomes and strengthening public confidence in the democratic process,” he said.
The commission said it was expanding its efforts to ensure that young Nigerians receive credible electoral information and participate responsibly in the 2027 elections.
Amupitan urged young voters to reject misinformation and activities capable of undermining the electoral process.
He also encouraged Nigerians to obtain accurate information and verify election-related content before sharing it.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Outreach and Partnership Committee, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, warned that false election information could spread rapidly online and damage public confidence before corrections reach the same audience.
“Information now travels rapidly, and a false claim about an election can reach thousands of people before a correction is issued,” Ajayi said.
He urged Nigerians to adopt a simple rule when dealing with election-related information: “verify before you amplify.”
As part of its youth engagement initiative, INEC unveiled nine Youth Ambassadors drawn from Nigeria’s entertainment and creative industries.
The ambassadors are expected to promote voter education, peaceful participation and responsible use of social media ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ambassadors include 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 Thompson Ukeki.
INEC said the initiative would help strengthen its engagement with young Nigerians and provide them with accurate information about the electoral process.
The announcement comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the commission focusing on young Nigerians as a significant segment of the electorate.
The 9,324,349 young Nigerians who completed fresh registration during the 2026 CVR exercise add to the pool of voters eligible to participate in the 2027 elections.
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The commission has continued to emphasise voter education, responsible participation and the need to counter misinformation as preparations for the polls gather pace.
