Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash O. Amupitan (SAN), identified misinformation, distrust in the electoral process, and poor civic awareness campaigns as the major drivers of voter apathy among Nigerian youth. The INEC chair stated this on Wednesday during the unveiling of a revised national voter education manual with young Nigerians in focus, organised by the
Kimpact Development Initiative in Abuja.
According to him, this perception is being fuelled by misinformation and past electoral controversies that riddled the process, leading to widespread disengagement.
He revealed that the situation has created a dangerous imbalance where a minority determines election outcomes in Nigeria.
In his statement, “For too long, we have accepted a democracy where the 70 per cent, who stay at home, allow the remaining 30 per cent to decide the future for everyone," he said.
The INEC chairman stressed that legal reforms alone cannot solve the problem.
He urged that disconnection and weak engagement strategies particularly affect young people, who constitute the largest voting bloc.
In his contribution, Executive Director of Kimpact Development Initiative, Bukola Idowu, said the voter education manual was designed to be practical, accessible, and responsive to the needs of the country’s youthful electorate, who constitute a large share of registered voters.
According to Idowu, the recent elections revealed a worrying drop in participation, driven by gaps in voter awareness, trust, and engagement, and a youth-focused version positions young people not only as voters but also as educators and advocates within their communities.
