By Achile Momoh
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.
The Commission made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, while unveiling nine returning and newly appointed INEC Youth Ambassadors as part of efforts to strengthen youth engagement ahead of the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, represented by National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the number of young registrants underscored the growing importance of youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to him, active youth participation is important to strengthening democracy, shaping electoral outcomes and building public confidence in the democratic process.
Amupitan said the appointment of the Youth Ambassadors was designed to strengthen the connection between INEC and young Nigerians by using credible and influential voices to communicate electoral information.
He urged the ambassadors to use their platforms to promote voter awareness, peaceful participation, responsible citizenship and accurate electoral information.
The INEC chairman also tasked them with helping to counter electoral misinformation and encouraging young Nigerians to participate responsibly in the democratic process.
INEC Warns Against Misinformation
National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Outreach and Partnership Committee, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, urged the ambassadors to speak against electoral violence and manipulation.
He also called on them to promote responsible online engagement and ensure that electoral information shared with the public is accurate.
Ajayi warned that false information could spread rapidly online before corrections reach the same audience.
He therefore urged the ambassadors to verify electoral information before sharing it with their followers.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Emmanuel Olawande, represented by Deputy Director, Network and Social Mobilisation Department, Mrs Lami Bature, also urged the ambassadors to promote electoral awareness, peaceful participation and responsible citizenship.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Oniru, represented by Director, Civic Values and Democracy Education, Dr Olukemi Afolayan, similarly called on the ambassadors to use their influence to promote civic responsibility, electoral integrity and peaceful participation.
Who Are INEC’s New Youth Ambassadors?
INEC said the Youth Ambassadors Initiative was established in 2014 to connect the Commission with young Nigerians through credible and influential youth figures.
The Director of the Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the initiative promotes voter education, informed participation and responsible digital engagement.
She said the programme is being strengthened ahead of the 2027 elections to reach young and first-time voters through youth-friendly platforms while addressing misinformation, hate speech and electoral violence.
The nine ambassadors are drawn from the movie, music and comedy industries. They include returning ambassadors who have worked with INEC for more than a decade and 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 Thompson Ukeki.
The investiture featured 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 Federal Constituency Member-Elect
In a separate development, INEC presented a 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 by the National Commissioner supervising Gombe State, Rear Adm. Jamila Abubakar Sadiq Malafa, Mni, OFR (Rtd.), at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
MaiJama’a commended the Commission for the conduct of the election, describing the exercise as free, fair and credible.
Credit: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Daily Bulletin, Volume 2, No. 495, September 30, 2026.
