INEC Records More Than 9.3 Million New Youth Voters Ahead of 2027 Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians were newly registered during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figure on Wednesday in Abuja during the investiture of nine new and returning INEC Youth Ambassadors.

The commission said the registration figure highlights the participation of young Nigerians in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election.

Amupitan, who was represented at the event by National Commissioner Professor Rhoda Gumus, said youth participation remained important to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.

The INEC chairman said the appointment of the Youth Ambassadors was part of efforts to strengthen the commission’s engagement with young Nigerians and encourage wider participation in elections.

He urged the ambassadors to use their platforms to promote voter education, peaceful participation and accurate electoral information among young Nigerians.

The commission also called on the ambassadors to help counter misinformation and encourage eligible young Nigerians to remain engaged with the electoral process.

INEC 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.

The latest figure comes after INEC recorded more than 10.7 million new voter registrations across the three phases of the 2025–2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise. The wider registration figure remains subject to verification through the Automated Biometric Identification System.

The commission has also announced plans for the nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards, with collection scheduled to begin on October 9, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general election.

The new youth registration figure places young Nigerians at the centre of INEC’s efforts to increase electoral awareness and participation as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.