2027: INEC Registers 9.3m New Young Voters, Unveils Nine Youth Ambassadors 

2027: INEC Registers 9.3m New Young Voters, Unveils Nine Youth Ambassadors

By Raphael Ekpang

Abuja (Core Reporters) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians were newly registered during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), as it unveiled nine returning and new INEC Youth Ambassadors ahead of the 2027 General Election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) disclosed this on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the investiture of the Youth Ambassadors in Abuja. He was represented by National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus.

Amupitan said the figure underscored the growing importance of youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process, noting that active involvement of young Nigerians remained critical to strengthening democracy and public confidence in elections.

He said the appointment of the ambassadors was a deliberate effort to strengthen INEC’s connection with young Nigerians and expand their participation in the electoral process.

According to him, young people are more likely to engage with electoral information when it is communicated through credible, relatable and influential voices within their communities and social networks.

The INEC Chairman charged the ambassadors to leverage their influence to promote voter awareness, peaceful and responsible participation, combat electoral misinformation and encourage young Nigerians to take an active role in the country’s democratic process.

He also urged them to uphold integrity, impartiality and responsible citizenship in the discharge of their duties.

In his welcome address, the 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 warned young Nigerians against allowing themselves to be used for activities capable of endangering their lives or disrupting the electoral process.

He equally charged the ambassadors to promote accurate electoral information and responsible online engagement.

“Information now travels rapidly, and a false claim about an election can reach thousands of people before a correction is issued. I therefore ask every Youth Ambassador to adopt a simple discipline: verify before you amplify,” he said.

In a goodwill message, the Minister of Youth Development,

Hon. Ayodele Emmanuel Olawande,

. Ayodele Emmanuel Olawande, represented by the Deputy Director, Network and Social Mobilisation Department, Mrs Lami Bature, urged the ambassadors to promote electoral awareness, peaceful participation and responsible citizenship.

She also tasked them with supporting efforts against misinformation, disinformation and electoral violence while upholding integrity, impartiality and respect for the rule of law.

Similarly, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Oniru, represented by the Director, Civic Values and Democracy Education, Dr Olukemi Afolayan, urged the ambassadors to use their influence to promote civic responsibility, electoral integrity and peaceful participation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Giving an overview of the initiative, the Director, Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the INEC Youth Ambassadors Initiative was established in 2014 to bridge the gap between the Commission and young Nigerians through credible and influential youth figures.

She said the ambassadors promote voter education, informed and peaceful participation and responsible digital engagement.

Bello added that ahead of the 2027 General Election, the initiative was being strengthened to reach young and first-time voters through youth-friendly platforms, while addressing misinformation, hate speech and electoral violence.

The Deputy Director, Inclusivity, Haj. Habiba Abdulkareem Jatto, said the investiture was designed to strengthen INEC’s partnership with influential young Nigerians and promote greater youth participation in the democratic process.

She said the ambassadors were expected to advance democratic values, informed and peaceful participation and responsible digital engagement.

The nine ambassadors, drawn from the movie, 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 (Uncle CY); Alex Kool Ibeh (Mr Kool); Mike Godson; Emmanuel Ikubese; Seun Ajayi; Ibrahim Tukur Bello (Disability Is Not Inability); Sunday Agbaji; and Ambassador Thompson Ukeki.

The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates, plaques and ambassadorial mufflers, as well as the administration of the Oath of Commitment.