By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, Sept 30, 2026
ABUJA — Ahead of the 2027 General Election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has inaugurated a new cohort of Youth Ambassadors in a strategic move aimed at deepening engagement with young Nigerians and fostering a peaceful, informed, and credible electoral process.
The investiture ceremony, held at the Commission’s headquarters, brought together key stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic project, including INEC National Commissioners, senior electoral officers, representatives of government agencies, development partners, returning Youth Ambassadors, and the newly selected ambassadors.
Welcoming participants to the event, the Chairman of the Outreach and Partnership Committee (OPC), Prof. Kunle Ajayi, described the youth ambassadorial initiative as a vital bridge between the electoral umpire and the nation’s largest voting demographic. He emphasized that young Nigerians represent one of the most critical constituencies in the country’s electoral landscape.
Prof. Ajayi noted that the appointment was far more than an honorary conferment, characterizing it as a call to service laden with immense public responsibility. He urged the new ambassadors to leverage their personal influence, social reach, and creative platforms to drive constructive civic participation, advocate for non-violent electoral conduct, and ensure that young voters across the country have reliable access to accurate electoral information.
Delivering the key address on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus affirmed that the Commission fully recognizes the leadership capacity, peer-to-peer influence, and dynamic reach of the selected ambassadors.
Prof. Gumus underscored the demographic weight of Nigeria’s youth, highlighting its profound implications for the future of the nation’s democracy. She pointed out, however, that numerical strength alone is insufficient unless it is translated into informed, organized, and accountable political action.
”Nigeria’s massive youth population holds enormous democratic potential,” Prof. Gumus stated. “However, numbers only become impactful when they are backed by informed, structured, and responsible civic involvement.”
Going beyond traditional voting drives, the Commission charged the ambassadors to actively investigate and address the underlying drivers of youth voter apathy and political disengagement. Prof. Gumus urged them to engage empathetically with their peers to understand issues such as information gaps, institutional distrust, political fatigue, negative past experiences, and misunderstandings surrounding electoral procedures.
Addressing the rising threat of digital fake news, the INEC representative identified misinformation and disinformation on social media as major hazards to democratic stability.
She called on the ambassadors to serve as digital gatekeepers, charging them to uphold and popularize the golden rule of online engagement: “Verify before you amplify.”
Furthermore, the Commission issued a stern warning against the persistent exploitation of young people as instruments of electoral violence and political thuggery. Prof. Gumus cautioned that youths recruited for violent activities ultimately pay the heaviest price through physical harm, loss of life, imprisonment, and destroyed futures.
“Do not allow anyone to use your youth against your future,” she warned. “Political competition should never demand that young Nigerians fight, destroy property, or kill one another in service of any political ambition.”
Prof. Gumus urged the ambassadors to redirect youth energy toward policy-driven engagement. She encouraged them to guide young voters to demand accountability from political parties and candidates on issues directly impacting their lives—such as job creation, quality education, national security, economic stability, and skill development.
