Nigeria Youth Mobilisation Drives Voter Participation Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Open Mind Young Voices Network, supported by the Friedrich‑Ebert‑Stiftung, conducted a community outreach in Kuje, Federal Capital Territory, training young people on social democracy, leadership and civic duties. Participants reported a shift in mindset, with more than ten enrolling for voter registration and many expressing optimism about higher turnout in the 2027 general elections. Organisers emphasised the need for continued engagement beyond voting, urging youth to hold elected officials accountable and reject vote‑buying.

Civic activist Hamzat Lawal, founder of Follow The Money and Connected Development (CODE), addressed Nigerian youth and the diaspora at a Cambridge University Nigerian Society dialogue on 20 June 2026. He called for youth to move beyond passive observation, citing his #SaveBagega campaign and the decade‑long “Not Too Young To Run” movement that secured constitutional reforms lowering age limits for office. Lawal highlighted the importance of transparency, accountability and participation within political institutions to shape Nigeria’s democratic future.