Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), has emphasized the critical necessity of transforming Nigerian students from mere observers of the electoral process into active stakeholders ahead of the upcoming 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the pledge during an inter-tertiary institution quiz competition hosted at the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he outlined the commission’s statutory mandate to expand voter and civic education across the nation’s higher institutions.
The INEC Chairman highlighted that young people constitute roughly 70 percent of Nigeria’s total population and represent about 67 percent of the registered voters on the official register.
He questioned why such a significant demographic continues to play a passive role during elections despite holding a dominant share of voting power.
Amupitan stated that participating in
governance is not a favor granted by any government, but a constitutional right enshrined under Sections 40, 77(2), and 117(2) of the Nigerian Constitution for every citizen aged 18 and above.
The chief electoral officer also mentioned provisions of the Electoral Act, emphasizing how recent legal frameworks have included technology—such as biometric voter accreditation and the mandatory electronic transmission of results via the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal to simplify registration and enhance transparency.
The address formed part of INEC’s nationwide voter education campaign to boost youth civic engagement ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
