Gen Z’s apathy towards 2027, and why they’re uninterested
By Habiba Kaita
As the 2027 general elections draw closer, Nigeria faces an uncomfortable challenge, youth apathy towards the democratic process.
Despite making up 70% of Nigeria’s population, a significant number of Gen Z choose to remain apathetic towards the electoral process of the country.
Youth apathy is the lack of interest or participation in the election process and politics in general. It is not just a statistic but also a national challenge and defeats the purpose of democracy.
In 2023, youths aged 18 to 34 made up nearly 40% of the 93.4 million registered voters amounting to over 37 million people. Students made up 27.8% of registered voters but it is unclear how many of them actually cast their votes.
Even with the surge in youth voter registration before the 2023 elections, partly driven by campaigns like the #ENDSARS, actual participation fell short.
Youth apathy is nothing new as a large number of youths believe that their votes do not necessarily make a difference, others fear violence, and a distrust in the electoral process with a belief that “nothing changes” regardless of who wins.
The consequences of youth’s abstinence are significant, many young Nigerians say they no longer trust the electoral system believing that elections are often rigged or manipulated. Reports of ballot boxes being snatched and results being tempered deepen the fears and distrust.
Others point out the long history of poor leadership and their inability to tackle problems such as unemployment, insecurity and the rising cost of living crisis, these make young Nigerians feel that voting is pointless. Some fear threats of violence or intimidation at the polling units.
In addition, electoral literacy and political consciousness also play important roles as a large number of first-time voters do not understand the significance of voting during elections nor do they understand the electoral process.
Many young Nigerians remain divided about whether or not to participate in the upcoming elections. One of them, Sadiq, an 18 year-old who just became eligible to vote said he will not be voting, explaining, “No because nothing ever changes, the country keeps plummeting.”
Amira, a 20 year old computer engineering student at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has a different view, “I will definitely vote, If the candidates seem reasonable.”
For some, the decision remains unclear. Victoria, a 21 year old Mass Communication student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) explained, “I have my voter’s card, but I’m still thinking about it.”
Although it is established that apathy is prevalent in Nigerian youths, several initiatives can be set in place, like the 2023 general elections campaigns tagged #SixtyPercentOfUs by UNDP and Yiaga Africa’s training aimed at encouraging young voters to participate in the exercise. Also, groups like HURIDAC’s EYE Project trained thousands of Lagos youths on electoral practices and how to stay informed during elections. These measures could be replicated ahead the 2027 contest.
It is difficult to say if initiatives such as the above will completely solve voter apathy by 2027. However, there are strong signs that they can make a difference if executed correctly and have proper support.
Still, challenges remain. Most engagement programs operate or focus on urban areas, leaving rural areas undeserved. For these projects to work, they need to reach more communities, not just major cities and they have to maintain constant messaging. The funding for these projects are not always guaranteed, making it difficult to execute their plans. This can be solved if governmental or non-govermental agencies can provide long term funding and not just support during elections.
To win back the trust of young voters, INEC must be transparent with results, ensure security at polling units to prevent violence, and make it easier for students and citizens in rural areas to have access to polling units.
Encouraging youth-led initiatives is important because peer-to-peer campaigns usually inspire the most action. When local youths are trained to lead, it sustains these initiatives so it does not stop when external funding ends.
Changes will not happen instantly, but with the necessary steps taken, there can be an increase in youth participation in the 2027 elections. The question now is whether Nigeria will create the conditions for successful reforms.
