The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says more than 9.32 million young Nigerians registered as new voters during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercises.
The commission said the figure underscored the growing role of young people in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figure on Wednesday in Abuja at the investiture of nine INEC Youth Ambassadors. He was represented at the event by a National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus.
“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,” Amupitan said.
He said the appointment of the ambassadors was aimed at strengthening the commission’s engagement with young Nigerians and improving the way electoral information was communicated to them.
“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,” he said.
Amupitan said young Nigerians were more likely to engage with electoral information when it was communicated through credible and relatable voices within their communities and social networks.
He urged the ambassadors to use their platforms to promote voter awareness, encourage peaceful and responsible participation, combat electoral misinformation and motivate young Nigerians to take an active role in the country’s democratic process.
He also charged them to uphold integrity, impartiality and responsible citizenship in carrying out their roles.
The nine ambassadors, drawn from the film, music and comedy industries, include returning ambassadors who have served the commission for more than a decade as well as newly appointed members.
They are 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, known as Disability Is Not Inability, Sunday Agbaji and Thompson Ukeki.
In a separate development, INEC presented a Certificate of Return to Hon. Kallamu MaiJama’a, who won the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election held on 19 September 2026.
The National Commissioner supervising Gombe State, Rear Admiral Jamila Abubakar Sadiq Malafa (retd.), presented the certificate to MaiJama’a on Wednesday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The lawmaker-elect commended INEC for conducting what he described as a free, fair and credible election.
