The National Orientation Agency has identified election violence, misinformation, vote buying and declining trust as factors eroding Nigerians’ confidence in the electoral process.

The Director, Civic, Values and Democracy Education at the NOA, Olukemi Afolayan, stated this on Thursday in Abuja at an election roundtable organised by Create Studio Nigeria and the Humanitarian Foundation for Social Justice.

Speaking on the theme, “Reclaiming Our Vote: Enfranchising a New Generation of Voters,” Afolayan said the growing perception among some citizens, particularly young Nigerians, that their votes did not make a meaningful difference was contributing to voter apathy.

She said, “Yet, across many democracies, including Nigeria, we are confronted with the challenge of declining trust, voter apathy, misinformation, vote buying, election violence and the growing perception among some citizens, particularly young people, that their votes do not make a meaningful difference.”

According to her, restoring citizens’ confidence in the democratic process was necessary to reverse voter apathy and encourage greater participation in elections.

“This is why reclaiming our vote must begin with reclaiming citizens’ confidence in the democratic process,” she said.

Afolayan described young Nigerians as critical stakeholders in the country’s democratic development, noting that Nigeria’s youthful population made their participation essential to the future of democracy.

“Nigeria is a youthful nation. Our young people are not merely the leaders of tomorrow; they are active stakeholders in the Nigeria of today,” she stated.

She said enfranchising a new generation of voters required more than encouraging young people to register and cast their ballots, stressing the need to equip them with civic knowledge and values.

“At the National Orientation Agency, we believe that civic education and values reorientation are essential pillars of democratic development.

“Citizens must understand not only how to vote, but why their vote matters; not only their rights, but also their responsibilities,” Afolayan said.

The NOA official urged Nigerians to reject vote buying and selling, resist misinformation and manipulation, shun electoral violence and demand issue-based campaigns from political actors.

A university don, Prof. Ajibade Michael, called for Nigerians above the age of 70 to leave the country’s political system, arguing that younger people are better positioned to determine the nation’s future.

The don argued that political leadership should give greater consideration to people between the ages of 25 and 70.

He said younger Nigerians were more mentally alert, physically active and better equipped to understand and respond to contemporary challenges.

“From 70 years above, we don’t need them again in the system.

“From 70 years downward to 25 years, in between this, these are the kind of people we want, because their leg is still on ground, their brain is still correct, their articulation is very, mental alertness is something to write home about,” Michael said

He argued that the country could not effectively entrust its future to elderly leaders who might struggle to understand the realities of younger generations.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Humanitarian Foundation for Social Justice, Adekunle Adebanjo, said the roundtable was designed to bring stakeholders together to assess Nigeria’s democratic journey and identify practical ways of strengthening the electoral process.

Adebanjo said democracy should ultimately translate into improved living conditions and greater opportunities for citizens.

“Democracy is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end,” he said.

The call came amid preparations for the 2027 general elections and concerns over voter apathy, declining trust and challenges affecting citizens’ participation in Nigeria’s electoral process. (Punch)

Update news