The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for greater collaboration with youth organisations to boost voter mobilisation, especially in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
The call was made during a ceremony where the National Youth for Good Leadership and Governance (NYGLG) presented a Certificate of Excellence Award to INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
National Commissioner Professor Kunle Ajayi, who received the award on behalf of the Chairman, highlighted the critical role of young Nigerians in the democratic process.
READ ALSO: INEC announces start of campaigns for 2026 FCT area council election
Citing official statistics, he noted that the youth demographic constitutes approximately 60% of the nation’s over 93 million registered voters.
“The energy and potential of our youth are not just assets; they are necessities for a vibrant democracy,” Ajayi stated.
“Excluding such a significant segment of our population from active participation would be a fundamental flaw.”
Ajayi issued a stern warning against the practice of vote-selling, equating it to mortgaging the country’s future.
“When a citizen sells their vote, they are not just trading a ballot; they are mortgaging their future, selling their right to quality education, a functional judicial system, and good governance,” he emphasised.
He urged the NYGLG to leverage its platform to drive CVR participation and discourage electoral malpractice.
However, A.D. Bilal, the National Secretary of the NYGLG, commended Yakubu’s leadership, asserting that INEC is in a better state than he met it.
He specifically praised the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for significantly reducing electoral violence and malpractice.
Bilal, however, challenged the youth to channel their dissatisfaction through legal means rather than post-election violence targeting public property.
READ ALSO: Over 4.4m Nigerians pre-register online in 4 wks INEC
“The path to challenging electoral outcomes lies in the courtroom, not in the burning of public property,” he affirmed.
The event, which saw the NYGLG delegation led by its National President, Engr. Labaran Abubaka, ended with INEC’s Deputy Director of Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, calling for a more balanced public appraisal of the Commission’s incremental progress.
