The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged Nigerian youths to take a more active role in strengthening the country’s electoral process and democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Haruna, made the call during the grand finale of the Commission’s Campus Debate Competition, held at the University of Abuja.
The competition, themed “Nigeria’s Electoral Process and Democracy,” brought together winning debate teams from the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Bayero University, Kano, and the University of Jos, following preliminary competitions across the four institutions.
Speaking at the event, Haruna said INEC’s decision to engage universities through the initiative was deliberate, noting that institutions of higher learning play important roles in promoting intellectual development, civic responsibility and democratic consciousness.
He observed that young people between the ages of 18 and 34 constitute the largest segment of Nigeria’s population, stressing that their participation in elections and democratic governance was essential to national development.
Haruna emphasised that youth involvement in democracy should go beyond voting on election day to include staying informed, understanding electoral processes, engaging in public discourse and demanding accountability through lawful means.
He urged the finalists to demonstrate confidence, fairness and sportsmanship, adding that the knowledge and exposure gained from the competition were as valuable as winning the ultimate prize.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, described young Nigerians as indispensable to sustaining democracy and driving national development.
Fawehinmi noted that voter registration alone does not guarantee active democratic participation, urging students to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, participate in elections, reject electoral malpractice and hold elected leaders accountable.
He commended INEC for the initiative, describing universities as natural partners in promoting civic education and national development.
In his vote of thanks, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, urged the participating students to take the lessons from the competition beyond their campuses and become advocates of democratic values in their communities.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening voter education and public enlightenment through sustained engagement with universities and other relevant institutions as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
