The participation of youths in Nigeria’s electoral system cannot be overemphasized. The youth play numerous important roles in nation-building. According to Nigeria’s National Youth Policy, a youth is defined as anyone between the ages of 18 to 29 years. The African Youths Charter on the other hand defines youth as ages 15 to 35 years. Despite Nigeria’s national youth policy, the African youth charter has been widely accepted as the age definition for youths.
Over the years there has been a contrast between youth clamoring for political inclusion and those being used as agents of political thuggery. With the count down to the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States in 2024, the point is being made that the youths have a crucial role to play in nation-building through the electoral process. So far amongst the candidates contesting for the September elections, no governorship candidate falls within either the Nigerian or African definition of youth.
Notwithstanding, youth can play pivotal roles in the off-cycle elections. Youths account for 70 percent of Nigeria’s 217 million population, which stands at a huge 151 million according to Worldometer as of August 25, 2022. With youths making up more than half of the population one would expect that youth involvement in politics would be above the ceiling. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case as Nigeria has witnessed lower voter turnout during the elections indicating a gap in engaging young people in the electoral process.
Challenges of Youth Participation
Some of the challenges faced by youths include political exclusion, electoral violence, voter apathy and limited representation. Many youths feel excluded from mainstream political processes. This is often due to limited access to resources, networks and opportunities. The Nigerian system requires huge capital to ensure political success. Unfortunately, this isn’t feasible for many youths who are still struggling financially. Also, limited access to political networks and patronage systems, coupled with the absence of meaningful leadership development opportunities, discourages aspiring young politicians.
Beyond the limitations of capital for political activities such as rallies and advertisements, financial limitations are also linked to youth engagement in thuggery and vices. Some youths resort to engaging in electoral violence and thuggery, driven by socioeconomic factors, lack of alternative opportunities, and manipulation by political elites.
Many Nigerian youths exhibit apathy towards politics, primarily driven by disillusionment with the political system, perceptions of widespread corruption, and a lack of confidence in elected leaders. This disillusionment stems from long standing grievances regarding the failure of politicians to address pressing societal issues and deliver on campaign promises, leading many young people to disengage from the political process.
The absence of youth representation among political candidates worsens feelings of disenchantment and disengagement among young people in Nigeria. Without viable youth candidates, many youths perceive a lack of alignment between their interests and the priorities of the political system, diminishing their confidence in its ability to address their concerns and aspirations. Despite the Not Too Young to Run bill, representation of youths in politics is still limited.
Peddling of False narratives against the youths
False narratives aimed at youths often serve to diminish their participation and interest in politics, ultimately leading to their marginalization or exploitation as political pawns. One prevalent false narrative suggests that youths are inherently prone to violence and thuggery, which is used as a justification for sidelining them from active political engagement. However, this portrayal is not reflective of reality, as only a small fraction of youths engage in electoral violence. Media reportage has not diminished the perception as sensationalized reporting of youth crime, often focus on the most violent and sensational offences, contributes to negative perceptions of young people and distorts the actual prevalence of youth offending
Specific instances where young leaders have faced challenges or failed to live up to expectations have further perpetuated the false narrative that youths are incapable of being good leaders. This narrative has been deployed in various contexts. Examples of a Senator from the North East and the Governor of a North Central State further perpetuate the narrative. The North East Senator was caught-on-camera assaulting a woman and the governor from the North Central’s governance controversies have fueled doubts about young leaders’ capabilities. These cases have made some politicians argue that younger politicians need guidance before holding office.
This narrative has also affected youths within political parties, who often find themselves sidelined or used as tools for older politicians’ agendas. Instead of being given meaningful roles, they’re mainly deployed for tasks like campaigning or rallying support.
What Can Be Done
Promoting youth participation in the upcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the systemic barriers hindering them from engaging in the political process. Targeted voter education campaigns should be conducted to raise awareness among youths about the importance of political participation and their role in shaping the future of their communities. These campaigns should provide information on voter registration procedures, polling locations, and the significance of exercising their democratic rights.
Using social media platforms, community outreach programs, and educational workshops can effectively disseminate this information and encourage youths to become active participants in the electoral process. Youths can be encouraged to participate in the electoral process by providing platforms for young activists to voice their concerns, mobilize support, and campaign for issues that matter to them. To help young people become politicians, they should have opportunities to learn from experienced leaders and gain practical experience through internships and mentorship programs. As Nigeria prepares for the off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo states, these steps can lead to a stronger democracy in the states.
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