Nigerian youth, civil society organisations (CSOs), professional associations, and labour unions have been urged to take the lead in deepening the country’s democratic and electoral reform process by actively engaging lawmakers and government institutions to pass key reform bills currently before the National Assembly.
This call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the National Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Electoral Reform, convened by the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) on September 30, 2025, at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments, Abuja. The communiqué was jointly signed by representatives of YERP-Naija partner organisations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The forum encouraged young Nigerians and civic actors across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to take ownership of the ongoing reform efforts by engaging their legislators, joining advocacy coalitions such as the YERP-Naija campaign, promoting electoral reform discourse on social media, and participating in public hearings and town halls on constitutional and electoral amendments. According to participants, this level of citizen participation would ensure that reforms being proposed reflect the aspirations of the people and help restore faith in Nigeria’s democracy.
The communiqué also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the appointment of a new Chairman and National Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is done in full compliance with constitutional provisions to build public trust. The forum noted that with the current INEC Chairman’s tenure expiring in October, the government must seize the opportunity to demonstrate integrity and transparency in the process. It urged the President to evolve an inclusive system that enhances citizens’ participation in the appointment process and strengthens the independence of the electoral body.
Beyond leadership appointments, participants demanded that the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and the Presidency prioritise the passage of constitutional and electoral reform bills that would improve the credibility of elections. These include amendments to transfer the power to appoint the INEC Chairman to an independent, non-partisan committee; ensure that pre- and post-election petitions are concluded before winners are sworn in; and reduce the age requirement for elective positions such as governor and senator from 35 to 30 years to open up the political space to more youth.
Other recommendations from the forum included constitutional amendments to introduce independent candidacy, create special seats for women to enhance inclusion, and establish a Political Party Registration and Regulatory Commission to oversee the registration and regulation of political parties. Participants further called for amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 to make electronic transmission of results mandatory, allow early and diaspora voting, and create an Electoral Offences Commission to handle the prosecution of election-related crimes.
The stakeholders urged the National Assembly and the Presidency to conclude the ongoing constitutional and electoral reform processes by December 2025 to allow adequate time for public sensitisation and smooth implementation ahead of subsequent elections. They emphasised that completing the reforms before the end of the year would also prevent delays that could affect preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The communiqué was signed by Bukola Idowu, Executive Director of the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) and YERP-Naija National Coordinator; Abimbola Aladejare-Salako, Executive Director of the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD); Ashraf Tukur, Executive Director of the Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative (CPPLI); Zigwai Ayuba, Executive Director of JAEZ Development Foundation (J-DEV); Nonso Orakwe, Executive Director of Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI); and Prince Israel Orekha, Executive Director of Connected Advocacy.
The forum was attended by representatives of student unions, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), media organisations, organisations of persons with disabilities, and other civic groups. It forms part of an ongoing nationwide campaign to build consensus around reforms that can guarantee credible, inclusive, and transparent elections in Nigeria.