As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, stakeholders have urged young people and women to seek elective offices, participate actively in political processes and hold elected officials accountable beyond election day.
They made the call at the 2026 DARE Conference, organised by YouthHub Africa, where discussions focused on youth leadership, women’s representation, electoral participation and civic engagement.
The conference, which brought together participants from Abuja, other parts of Nigeria and abroad, was held under the theme “Youth Power as a Force for Change on the Continent”.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of YouthHub Africa, Rotimi Olawale, urged young Nigerians to participate in elections before, during and after voting, stressing that democratic engagement should not end when ballots are cast.
He encouraged young people to use lawful means, including peaceful protests and freedom of association, to demand accountability from public officials.
Olawale also urged them to engage with state and local governments, noting that decisions made at those levels directly affect their communities.
He said the belief that votes do not count should not discourage young people from voting, acknowledging that electoral irregularities could occur but insisting that citizens should exercise their right to choose their leaders.
On legislative efforts to increase youth participation in politics, he said measures that expand opportunities for young people to contest elections and participate in political processes should be supported.
He also commended members of the National Youth Service Corps serving in election-related roles, particularly those working at polling units under difficult and sometimes risky conditions.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, Olawale called for peaceful political participation and urged young people to respect opposing views and reject intimidation and violence.
He said citizens must continue to monitor the performance of elected officials after elections, describing accountability as a critical part of democratic governance.
“Elections will come and go, but we have the next four years to hold our government accountable, and that, for me, is where the real work is,” he said.
Similarly, the Director of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative, Solape Sonuga, said the Not Too Young To Act, enacted in 2018, had widened opportunities for young Nigerians to contest elective positions.
However, she maintained that legislative reforms alone could not guarantee meaningful youth representation, calling for sustained advocacy, political mobilisation and engagement by civil society organisations.
“Your vote does count. Do not be disenfranchised. Do not be discouraged. You matter in Nigeria’s democracy,” Sonuga said.
She urged young Nigerians to remain committed to political participation despite the challenges, adding that those seeking to influence national development must be prepared to work towards gaining political representation.
A National Youth Service Corps member, Hafsa Yusuf, identified inadequate funding as a major obstacle to youth participation in politics.
She said aspiring young politicians often struggled to raise money for campaigns, transportation, voter mobilisation and other expenses associated with contesting elections.
Yusuf said more opportunities were needed to enable young people to participate in politics rather than leave leadership positions largely in the hands of older generations.
On women’s representation, Gladys Eleojo Omenefu, the Project Lead of the Young Feminist Solidarity and Climate Project at TechHer, urged women to pursue political office and take a more active role in decision-making.
She said perceptions that votes would not count or that election results were predetermined could discourage women from participating in the electoral process.
Omenefu urged women to challenge such assumptions by contesting elections and pushing for policies that address issues affecting them, including healthcare, entrepreneurship and access to opportunities.
She cautioned against assuming that women in political office would automatically represent the interests of other women, stressing the need for more women to seek leadership positions themselves.
“Nobody is going to hand this over to you. You just have to do the work,” she said.
Omenefu also highlighted TechHer’s efforts to sensitise women and provide safer digital spaces for those advocating for their rights, including journalists and female politicians.
She said the organisation supports women facing online abuse through psychosocial assistance, engagement with law enforcement agencies and efforts to remove harmful content from digital platforms.
She added that amplifying women’s voices and highlighting their achievements could encourage more women to pursue leadership positions.
The stakeholders called for sustained civic education, inclusive political participation and stronger accountability mechanisms ahead of the 2027 elections, urging young people and women to translate demands for representation into active political engagement.
