The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians were newly registered during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercises.
The Commission made the disclosure in Abuja during the investiture of nine returning and newly appointed INEC Youth Ambassadors (IYAs), as part of efforts to deepen youth engagement and participation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, represented by National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the figure underscored the growing importance of young Nigerians in the electoral process.
According to him, active youth participation was critical to strengthening democracy, shaping electoral outcomes and building public confidence in the democratic process.
Amupitan said the appointment of the Youth Ambassadors was a deliberate initiative to strengthen the connection between INEC and the youth population.
He urged the ambassadors to leverage their influence to raise voter awareness, promote peaceful and responsible participation, counter electoral misinformation and encourage young Nigerians to take an active role in the democratic process.
He also charged them to uphold integrity, impartiality and responsible citizenship in the discharge of their duties.
In his welcome address, National Commissioner and Chairman, Outreach and Partnership Committee (OPC), Prof. Kunle Ajayi, urged the ambassadors to speak against electoral violence and manipulation.
Ajayi called on young Nigerians to protect their future by refusing to be used for activities that could endanger their lives or disrupt the electoral process.
He also urged 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.
The Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Emmanuel Olawande, represented by Deputy Director, Network and Social Mobilisation Department, Mrs Lami Bature, urged the ambassadors to promote electoral awareness, peaceful participation and responsible citizenship.
She also called on them to join efforts to combat misinformation, disinformation and electoral violence while upholding integrity, impartiality and respect for the rule of law.
Similarly, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Oniru, represented by 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 General Election.
Giving an overview of the initiative, the Director, Gender and Inclusivity (G&I) Department, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the INEC Youth Ambassadors Initiative was established in 2014 to connect the Commission with 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 countering misinformation, hate speech and electoral violence.
The Deputy Director, Inclusivity, Haj. Habiba Abdulkareem Jatto, said the investiture would strengthen INEC’s partnership with influential young Nigerians and promote greater youth participation in the democratic process.
The nine ambassadors, drawn from the movie, music and comedy industries, include returning ambassadors who have served the Commission for over a decade as well as newly appointed members.
They are 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 Ambassador Thompson Ukeki.
Highlights of the investiture included the presentation of certificates, plaques and ambassadorial mufflers, as well as the administration of the Oath of Commitment.
INEC Presents Certificate Of Return To Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Member-Elect
Meanwhile, INEC has presented the Certificate of Return to Hon. Kallamu MaiJama’a, winner of the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election held on September 19, 2026.
The certificate was presented to the Member-elect by the National Commissioner supervising Gombe State, Rear Adm. Jamila Abubakar Sadiq Malafa, Mni, OFR (Rtd.), at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
MaiJama’a commended INEC for the conduct of the election, describing the exercise as free, fair and credible.
