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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians were newly registered as voters during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figure on Wednesday in Abuja during the investiture of newly appointed Youth Ambassadors.
Amupitan, who was represented at the event by National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the number demonstrated the growing importance of young Nigerians to the country’s electoral process.
According to him, active youth participation would help shape electoral outcomes and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.
He said the appointment of the Youth Ambassadors was part of INEC’s efforts to deepen its engagement with young Nigerians and encourage greater participation ahead of the 2027 general election.
“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 credible, relatable voices within their communities and social networks delivered it.
The INEC chairman urged the ambassadors to use their platforms to promote voter awareness, peaceful participation and responsible citizenship while helping to counter electoral misinformation.
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Earlier, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Outreach and Partnership Committee, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, urged the ambassadors to speak out against electoral violence and manipulation.
Ajayi also warned young Nigerians against allowing themselves to be used for activities that could put their lives at risk or disrupt the electoral process.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, represented by Deputy Director of Network and Social Mobilisation, Mrs Lami Bature, similarly called on the ambassadors to promote electoral awareness, peaceful participation and responsible citizenship.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Oniru, represented by the Director of Civic Values and Democracy Education, Dr Olukemi Afolayan, also urged the ambassadors to promote civic responsibility, electoral integrity and peaceful participation ahead of the 2027 polls.
The INEC Youth Ambassadors Initiative, established in 2014, connects the electoral commission with young Nigerians through credible, influential youth figures. The commission said it is strengthening the initiative to reach young and first-time voters through youth-friendly platforms while addressing misinformation, hate speech and electoral violence.
The nine returning and newly appointed ambassadors were drawn from the entertainment and advocacy sectors.
They include Amal Umar, Christopher Yohanna, popularly known as Uncle CY, Alex Kool Ibeh (Mr Kool), Mike Godson, Emmanuel Ikubese, Seun Ajayi, Ibrahim Tukur Bello (Disability Is Not Inability), Sunday Agbaji and Thompson Ukeki.
