Nigeria’s voter register has grown to more than 103 million people, but new figures from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show a sharp decline in the proportion of young voters, raising questions about youth registration and changes to the electoral roll.
Samson Itodo, Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, examined the figures in an article originally published by Channels Television. He argued that the data requires closer scrutiny before anyone concludes that young Nigerians have been removed from the register.
According to INEC, Nigeria had 93,469,008 registered voters in 2023. By 2026, the figure had risen to 103,428,715, an increase of 9,959,707 voters, or 10.66 per cent.
However, the age distribution changed significantly during the period.
INEC Voter Register Shows Decline in Youth Share
The 2023 register contained 37,060,399 voters aged between 18 and 34. They accounted for 39.6 per cent of all registered voters.
By 2026, the number in that age group had fallen to 29,777,578, representing 28.79 per cent of the total register.
This amounts to a reduction of 7,282,821 voters, or approximately 19.65 per cent, in the reported youth category.
The figures for other age groups moved in the opposite direction.
| Age group | 2023 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Youth (18–34) | 37,060,399 | 29,777,578 |
| Middle age (35–49) | 33,413,591 | 43,265,946 |
| Elderly (50–69) | 17,700,270 | 22,982,900 |
| 70 years and above | 5,294,748 | 7,402,291 |
The number of registered voters aged 35–49 increased by 9,852,355, representing growth of about 29.5 per cent.
These changes have prompted questions about whether young Nigerians have been removed from the voter register.
Does the Decline Mean Young Voters Were Removed?
Itodo cautioned against drawing that conclusion from the figures alone.
He explained that the three years between 2023 and 2026 would have moved some voters out of the 18–34 age bracket and into the 35–49 category.
For example, people who were 32, 33 or 34 in 2023 would have entered the older category by 2026. This natural ageing process could explain part of the decline in the youth category.
However, Itodo said ageing alone might not explain the full change. INEC must also account for new registrations, administrative adjustments and other changes to the register.
A key question is whether newly eligible young Nigerians are registering in sufficient numbers to replace those who move beyond the youth age bracket.
Nigeria’s Voter Register Growth Has Slowed
Historical figures also show a decline in the percentage growth of Nigeria’s voter register.
The register increased from 68,833,476 voters in 2015 to 84,004,084 in 2019, representing growth of 22.04 per cent.
Between 2019 and 2023, the figure rose to 93,469,008, an increase of 11.27 per cent.
The 2026 register reached 103,428,715, representing a further increase of 10.66 per cent over the 2023 total.
Although the absolute increase between 2023 and 2026 was slightly higher than the increase recorded between 2019 and 2023, the percentage growth was lower.
Itodo noted that the latest period covers three years, compared with the four-year intervals in the earlier comparisons. This difference matters when interpreting the growth rates.
Itodo Urges INEC to Explain Changes in Voter Register
The YIAGA Africa director called on INEC to publish a detailed age-cohort analysis comparing the 2015, 2019, 2023 and 2026 voter registers.
He said the analysis should explain how many voters were newly registered, how many moved between age groups, and how many were removed because they had died or no longer qualified to remain on the register.
Itodo argued that clear documentation would help Nigerians understand whether the decline in young voters reflects demographic changes, insufficient youth registration or administrative adjustments.
If the data reveals that too few newly eligible young people are registering, he said, the findings should prompt greater investment in youth voter-registration campaigns.
If administrative changes explain the figures, INEC should document and explain those adjustments.
The central issue, he stressed, is not simply whether Nigeria’s voter register continues to grow. It is also important to understand who is joining it, how its age profile is changing and what those changes mean for electoral participation.