A coalition of youth-focused civil society groups under the platform Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) has issued a strong call ...
A coalition of youth-focused civil society groups under the platform Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) has issued a strong call for immediate and inclusive reforms in Nigeria’s electoral system, particularly the democratization of the appointment process for the Chairman and National Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja—facilitated by the National Democratic Institute (NDI)—representatives of the coalition emphasized that the president’s current powers over the appointment of INEC leadership are excessive, politically susceptible, and must be restructured to safeguard electoral integrity.
The call for reform comes as the National Assembly Committees on Constitutional Review and Electoral Matters prepare to commence public hearings in July 2025. The coalition expressed deep concern over the slow pace of electoral reform, describing it as a red flag that could impact the 2027 elections.
Notably, the tenure of current INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is set to expire in October 2025, placing added urgency on reforming the appointment process before a new chairman is named.
South West Coordinator, Abimbola Aladejare-Salako, who read the statement on behalf of the coalition, cited findings from a 2024 nationwide survey which revealed widespread youth dissatisfaction following the 2023 general elections. According to her, young Nigerians were particularly disillusioned due to issues such as voter suppression and INEC’s failure to electronically transmit results in real-time, despite promises to do so.
She was joined by several regional coordinators, including Bukola Idowu (National Coordinator), Zigwai Ayuba (North-West), Ashraf Tukur (North-East), Nonso Orakwe (South-East), and Israel Orekha (South-South), who collectively echoed the coalition’s demands.
According to the coalition, the lack of free, fair, and credible elections continues to alienate Nigerian youth—who represent nearly 40% of the country’s 93 million registered voters—from the political process. The coalition warned that this trend could worsen if tangible reforms are not made before 2027.
Among their key demands were:
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Mandatory electronic transmission of election results for transparency and accountability.
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Transfer of presidential powers to appoint INEC leadership to a non-partisan independent committee.
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Legal requirement that all post-election court cases be resolved before inauguration of elected officials.
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Continuous voter registration and PVC collection, without arbitrary cut-off points.
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Establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to independently prosecute electoral crimes.
YERP-Naija urged both the National and State Assemblies to adopt their recommendations, which they say are a product of broad-based national consultations. The campaign reported hosting 12 regional youth forums and multiple harmonization sessions, engaging over 4,000 youths across the 36 states and FCT. Out of 87 collected ideas, 25 priority recommendations were adopted after in-depth refinement.
The coalition also encouraged Nigerian youth to actively participate in the upcoming National Assembly public hearings, as well as the broader national discourse on constitutional and electoral reforms.
“These engagements provide a critical opportunity for Nigerians to shape the trajectory of democracy and ensure citizen-led governance reform,” said Aladejare-Salako.
YERP-Naija described itself as a non-partisan, youth-led campaign with backing from NDI, aimed at achieving inclusive, transparent, and accountable electoral reforms that reflect the aspirations of Nigeria’s youthful population.
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