By Adejumo Samson
Nigeria’s youth, who constitute a significant proportion of the population, have always played an integral role in the country’s electoral process, which was evident during the just-concluded presidential election on February 25, 2023. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over 37 million youths between the ages of 18-49 were registered to vote, making up the highest number of the populace.
However, the announcement of the president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has left many unanswered questions in the hearts of the youths, leading to an uproar in the nation. The announcement of the result by INEC on March 1, 2023, has brought out suspicions of election manipulation among the youth. Many believe that the BVAS system promised by INEC failed to work efficiently, and the result needed to be uploaded on the INEC Result Viewing Portal as promised.
The reaction of other political party candidates towards the winner also begs the question of the integrity of the Commission and whether they are capable of giving the youth a free and fair election, as promised. With the Governorship election slated for March 18, 2023, anxiety has filled the minds of Nigerian youths about whether their votes will count. The postponement of the election by INEC has only added to their apprehension, as the reason cited was the inability of the Commission to promptly commence reconfiguration of the BVAS machines utilized during the presidential election to enable their use in the state elections.
As the Nigerian youth look forward to the upcoming Gubernatorial election, they are concerned about whether INEC can conduct a free and fair election without any political interference or corruption. It is imperative not to ignore the youth’s participation in the electoral process, and their concerns should be taken into consideration to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
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