CVR: 9.3m Youths Register as INEC Unveils New Ambassadors Ahead of 2027
Oru Leonard
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians registered during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), underscoring the growing involvement of youths in the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Commission made the disclosure on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in Abuja, during the investiture of nine INEC Youth Ambassadors, as part of efforts to strengthen youth engagement and encourage greater participation in the electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, who was represented at the ceremony by National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the number of newly registered young voters demonstrated the critical role of youths in Nigeria’s democracy.
According to him, increased youth participation would contribute to shaping electoral outcomes and strengthening public confidence in the democratic process.
He said the appointment of the ambassadors was a deliberate effort to bridge the communication gap between INEC and young Nigerians by deploying credible and influential voices capable of reaching youths through their communities and social networks.
Amupitan charged the ambassadors to use their platforms to promote voter awareness, peaceful and responsible participation, accurate electoral information and the rejection of misinformation.
He also urged them to uphold integrity, impartiality and responsible citizenship in the discharge of their ambassadorial responsibilities.
In his welcome address, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Outreach and Partnership Committee, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, urged the ambassadors to speak against electoral violence and manipulation.
Ajayi warned young Nigerians against allowing themselves to be used for activities capable of endangering their lives or undermining the electoral process.
He equally called for responsible online engagement, stressing the need for youths to verify information before sharing it.
“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 support 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 promote civic responsibility, electoral integrity and peaceful participation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Providing an overview of the initiative, Director, Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the INEC Youth Ambassadors Initiative was established in 2014 to strengthen the Commission’s connection with young Nigerians through credible and influential youth figures.
She said the initiative promotes voter education, informed and peaceful participation as well as responsible digital engagement.
According to her, the programme is being strengthened ahead of the 2027 General Election to reach young and first-time voters through youth-friendly platforms and address challenges including misinformation, hate speech and electoral violence.
The Deputy Director, Inclusivity, Haj. Habiba Abdulkareem Jatto, said the investiture was aimed at strengthening INEC’s partnership with influential young Nigerians and encouraging 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 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.
