Youth and civil society organisations operating under the platform of the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) have urged the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution to lower the minimum age requirement for those contesting governorship and senatorial positions from 35 to 30 years. This demand formed part of the resolutions adopted at the National Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Electoral Reform, held in Abuja.
The high-level forum brought together a wide array of participants, including representatives of civil society groups, youth organisations, professional associations, and labour unions. Notable institutions such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) were represented. The discussions centred on consolidating advocacy efforts for electoral reform and setting a clear agenda for the National Assembly as it prepares to resume plenary sessions in October.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the forum and signed by Bukola Idowu, Executive Director of Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), and Abimbola Aladejare-Salako, Executive Director of the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD), among others, the proposed reduction in age eligibility was aimed at broadening the political space and ensuring greater youth inclusion in governance. The signatories argued that the change would bring Nigeria’s democratic standards in line with international norms and promote leadership renewal across different levels of government.
Beyond the call for age reduction, the forum made several other recommendations designed to strengthen transparency, fairness, and inclusiveness in Nigeria’s electoral system. One major proposal was the transfer of the power to appoint the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the President to an independent, non-partisan committee. This, participants noted, would enhance public trust in the electoral umpire and reduce political interference.
They also advocated for the compulsory electronic transmission of election results to minimize vote manipulation, and the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission dedicated to investigating and prosecuting electoral crimes. In addition, the forum proposed that pre- and post-election petitions be resolved before elected officials are sworn in, to ensure fairness and prevent prolonged legal disputes after elections.
Other recommendations included introducing independent candidacy to make elections more open and competitive, establishing reserved seats for women to promote gender equity, and removing INEC’s authority to register and regulate political parties. Instead, that responsibility would be transferred to a newly established Political Party Registration and Regulation Commission (PPRRC) through an Act of Parliament. The forum further called for amendments to the Electoral Act to accommodate early voting, diaspora participation, and other modern voting options.
Participants urged President Bola Tinubu to adopt a transparent and inclusive approach in future INEC appointments by allowing citizen participation in the process, a move they believe would strengthen public confidence in the nation’s electoral leadership.
The communiqué concluded with an appeal to the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and the Presidency to fast-track constitutional and electoral reform processes before December 2025. This timeline, they argued, would give enough room to sensitise citizens on the new provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Act and to ensure proper implementation ahead of future elections.
In essence, the forum’s resolutions reflected a strong collective push for a more inclusive, credible, and technologically advanced electoral system — one that recognises the role of youth and women as vital contributors to Nigeria’s democratic development.