The Independent National Electoral Commission says 9,324,349 young Nigerians registered as new voters during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan disclosed the figure Wednesday in Abuja during the investiture of nine returning and newly appointed INEC Youth Ambassadors.
He was represented by National Commissioner Rhoda Gumus.
Amupitan said the number showed the growing importance of young Nigerians in the country’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.
He said the Youth Ambassador initiative was designed to strengthen INEC’s connection with young Nigerians and encourage greater participation.
“The appointment of these distinguished young Nigerians as INEC Youth Ambassadors is therefore a deliberate step towards strengthening the connection between the Commission and the youth population,” Amupitan said.
He added that young people were more likely to engage with electoral information when it came through “credible, relatable and influential voices” in their communities and social networks.
The commission also urged the ambassadors to promote voter awareness, peaceful participation and accurate electoral information while helping to counter misinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC National Commissioner Kunle Ajayi warned that false information could spread quickly online and affect public confidence in elections.
“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 the ambassadors to follow a simple rule: “verify before you amplify.”
The new ambassadors were drawn from Nigeria’s entertainment and creative industries and will support INEC's voter education and youth engagement efforts.
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