By Victoria Victor
Findings by the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), reveals that difficulties collecting Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote buying are among the major concerns reported by young Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election.
The findings, based on 656 submissions from young Nigerians across 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory, were presented at the YERP-Naija National Stakeholder Roundtable in Abuja on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Presenting the findings, KDI Programme Manager, Daniel Ukpai, said PVC collection problems accounted for 152 submissions, the highest among the reported challenges, followed by 85 reports of vote buying and 79 complaints relating to Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
A further 139 submissions were categorised as other concerns, while electoral violence and intimidation accounted for 68 reports. “Other issues included BVAS and accreditation challenges, 45; accessibility barriers, 30; political party and primary-related issues, 28; downloadable PVC problems, 18; and concerns about the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as well as result uploads, 12”.
Ukpai also highlighted Sokoto State, where 62 of the 65 submissions received from the state concerned PVC collection problems.
Ukpai recommended improved voter-service information, stronger community-based voter education, better reporting and feedback systems, as well as closer collaboration among electoral umpires and youth networks.
In his welcome remarks, KDI Executive Director, Bukola Idowu, said credible elections depended not only on strong electoral institutions but also on active citizen participation, particularly among young people.
Idowu who identified declining trust in institutions, inadequate voter education, economic pressure, electoral insecurity and misinformation as factors discouraging participation, urged young Nigerians to remain informed, demand accountability and participate peacefully in elections.
Representing NOA Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the agency’s Deputy Director, Abiodun Olayemi-Ali, disclosed that the agency began a grassroots voter sensitisation campaign on October 15, under the theme, “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future”, aimed to address voter apathy, vote buying, electoral violence through engagements in communities and other public spaces.
Olayemi-Ali stated that NOA was working with INEC and civil society organisations to strengthen voter education and promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Similarly, INEC Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Paula Iwenjiora, who represented the commission’s chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, revealed that the commission had taken voter education campaigns to universities across the country.
She urged young Nigerians to join political parties, study their manifestoes and participate in political discussions rather than limiting their involvement to voting on election day.
Also, the Director-General of IPAC, Chinedu Obi, called for greater inclusion of young people and women in the political process, urging youths to join political parties, take advantage of opportunities to participate in decision-making and political leadership.
The roundtable brought together representatives of electoral institutions, civil society organisations, political stakeholders and young people to identify practical measures for improving electoral engagement ahead of the 2027 general election.
Edited by Julian Osamoto
