The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns over declining youth participation in elections, saying voter apathy could weaken Nigeria’s democratic system if young Nigerians continue to stay away from the electoral process.
The party made the call in Abuja during its 2026 International Youth Day programme, where speakers urged Nigerian youths to move beyond political spectatorship and use their numerical strength to influence elections, governance and public policy.
Participants identified unemployment, economic hardship, distrust in political institutions, fear of electoral violence and the rising cost of political participation as some of the factors discouraging young Nigerians from active engagement.
Delivering the keynote address, PDP National Director of Administration, Arthur Ekwelem, said the country’s youth population possessed the numbers, creativity, energy and digital influence required to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape. He stressed that democracy could only function effectively when citizens actively participated in choosing their leaders.
“Democracy thrives on participation. When citizens withdraw from the electoral process, they surrender part of their democratic power to others,” Ekwelem said.
He also identified misinformation, inadequate civic education and logistical challenges as factors contributing to voter apathy among Nigerians.
Representing the Chairman of the occasion, former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, the PDP Gombe governorship candidate, Isah Pantami, said young Nigerians, who account for more than 60 per cent of the country’s population, deserved greater representation in governance.
Pantami described youths as critical drivers of national development and urged them to become more involved in shaping policies that affect their future.
He pointed to the creative economy, digital technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and smart agriculture as sectors capable of creating opportunities for young Nigerians. However, he said unemployment, weaknesses in the education system, limited mentorship opportunities and the increasing cost of living continued to constrain their potential.
Pantami also questioned the practical impact of the “Not Too Young To Run” reform, arguing that the high cost of nomination forms, campaigns and other electoral activities continued to prevent many young Nigerians from contesting elections.
“Not too young to run … is only about an academic work where we have a law in place,” he said.
The PDP Director-General of its Female Youth Wing, Hon. Loveth Izekor, similarly challenged young women to seek political leadership rather than remain instruments of mobilisation during elections.
“Democracy dies when youth are silent. We must move from being mobilised to being decision-makers,” Izekor said.
She called for improved access to political financing, leadership training and party tickets for young women, describing the programme as a strategic platform for action rather than a mere celebration. PDP National Youth Leader, Amb. Ibrahim Bala-Aboki, said his office had prioritised youth mobilisation, inclusion and grassroots participation.
He said the party had mobilised young members for party congresses, INEC e-registration and elective positions, while also establishing a National Youth Leadership Consultative Forum and beginning the revalidation of youth support groups across the country.
Bala-Aboki further announced a skills initiative that would train 100 youths as trainers. Each participant, he said, would subsequently train 50 young people across the 774 local government areas in vocational and entrepreneurial skills. He urged young Nigerians to replace political passivity with active participation.
“This is the time for action, not docility; time for valued alacrity, not void alarms; time for greater momentum, not murmurs,” he said.
Bala-Aboki maintained that Nigeria’s youth population could significantly influence the country’s political direction if they participated actively in elections.
“Every voter is a leader. Together, let us shape and forge our chosen future,” he said.
