ABUJA — Nigeria’s electoral umpire has urged young people to step beyond the ballot box and actively safeguard the country’s democracy, as students from across the nation gathered in the capital for the final of a national campus debate.
The grand finale, held at the University of Abuja, pitted student debaters from four major tertiary institutions against one another: the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Bayero University, Kano, and the University of Jos.
The University of Jos emerged victorious, securing the top prize after arguing key issues around electoral integrity and political participation. Bayero University took second place, while the University of Ibadan claimed third.
Power in Numbers
Young people aged 18 to 34 form the vast majority of Nigeria’s registered voting population. Yet ahead of the 2027 general elections, officials remain concerned about low voter turnout and political disillusionment among youth. Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), told delegates that targeting universities was a deliberate strategy.”Youth participation in democracy must go beyond voting on election day,” Mr. Haruna said, emphasizing that students must stay informed, reject violence, and demand accountability through peaceful means.
Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, Vice-Chancellor of the host institution, warned that holding a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is meaningless without active engagement.”Being registered voters does not automatically translate into active democratic participation,” Prof. Fawehinmi noted, urging students to resist electoral manipulation and ballot snatching.
Beyond the Campus
The event, which also included an electoral quiz for host university students, marks part of a broader push by INEC to rebuild public trust and deepen civic education in higher education institutions ahead of the 2027 campaign cycle.
Professor Joash Amupitan SAN, Chairman of INEC, closed the proceedings by calling on the student debaters to take their arguments into their wider communities and champion democratic values nationwide.
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