Nigeria: Ahead of 2027 Elections - Youth Vote At Risk As 52% of Young Nigerians Unregistered

What the report says

A Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) event in Abuja has highlighted a possible youth participation gap ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. According to survey findings presented during an online Next Gen YARN discussion on August 7, 2026, 52.1% of respondents across 34 tertiary institutions said they were not registered to vote. The share was even higher, at about 59%, among respondents aged 18 to 21.

The discussion, titled “Why Youths Matter in the 2027 Elections and What Is Holding Them Back,” brought together election and civic-education voices including representatives of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yiaga Africa, Enough is Enough Nigeria, CJID and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Speakers pointed to a mix of barriers behind low youth registration, including long queues, distance to registration centres, problems using the INEC portal, weak internet access, website downtime and distrust in the electoral system.

CJID officials and other participants said the trend matters because young Nigerians make up a large share of the population, yet many remain detached from formal politics. They argued that easier registration, clearer civic education, more youth-focused outreach and greater confidence in electoral institutions could improve participation. INEC representatives said the commission has been expanding digital registration efforts, working with schools and engaging on social media to reach younger voters. The report also placed the issue in the context of Nigeria’s low turnout in the 2023 elections, when only 26.72% of registered voters participated.