News
2027: Reps Rally Youths to Shape Nigeria’s Democratic Future Through Active Participation
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has urged Nigerian youths to take a leading role in shaping the country’s democratic future by participating actively in the 2027 general elections, saying the strength of Nigeria’s democracy will depend largely on the decisions, conduct and civic engagement of young people.
The appeal was made on Thursday during the Youth Town Hall, one of the flagship events of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The gathering brought together lawmakers, senior government officials, development partners, youth leaders, civil society organisations and students to discuss ways of expanding youth participation in governance, strengthening democratic accountability and promoting nation-building.
Speaking on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, the House Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, said the 10th House had deliberately placed youth development, inclusion and leadership at the centre of its legislative agenda.
He noted that the Youth Town Hall had grown beyond a forum for dialogue into a recognised platform through which young Nigerians contribute directly to policymaking and legislative reforms.
According to him, several proposals now being considered as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process and other national reforms were inspired by recommendations made at previous editions of the Youth Town Hall.
“Many of the ideas now reflected in the ongoing constitutional amendment proposals and other national policies were shaped by contributions made during previous editions of this Town Hall. Your voices have influenced outcomes, and that is precisely why this platform remains relevant,” Ihonvbere stated.
The Majority Leader highlighted a number of youth-focused legislative initiatives undertaken by the House, including the passage of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Reform Bill, the proposed Nigerian Youth Welfare Scheme Fund Bill sponsored by Speaker Abbas, and the constitutional amendment bill seeking to reduce the minimum age for governorship candidates from 35 to 30 years.
He also pointed to reforms in education financing, taxation, electricity, cybersecurity and the digital economy, describing them as strategic interventions aimed at creating more opportunities for innovation, employment and economic empowerment.
With political activities ahead of the 2027 elections already gathering pace, Ihonvbere said young Nigerians, as the country’s largest voting bloc, would play a decisive role in determining the credibility and direction of the nation’s democracy.
“The quality of our elections and the future of our democracy will, to a large extent, be determined by the choices, conduct and active involvement of young Nigerians,” he said.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, commended the National Assembly for institutionalising the Youth Town Hall, describing it as a landmark initiative that has opened the legislature to meaningful engagement with young people.
He observed that previous administrations had inadvertently created a disconnect between youths and public institutions but said the current administration was deliberately reversing that trend through inclusive governance and sustained dialogue.
“It is very important that young Nigerians are given the space to speak, ask questions, share ideas and take part in decisions that affect their future,” the minister said.
Olawande disclosed that the Ministry of Youth Development had established several platforms to promote direct engagement between government and young citizens while implementing programmes focused on entrepreneurship, digital skills, vocational training and access to affordable finance.
He listed the Nigerian Youth Academy, digital skills initiatives, youth enterprise support programmes and the proposed Youth Green Fund among the interventions designed to prepare young Nigerians for opportunities in the rapidly growing digital and green economies.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu, challenged young Nigerians to embrace innovation, technology and artificial intelligence as tools for national development and global competitiveness.
Halilu argued that innovation, rather than natural resource endowment, would determine the future prosperity of nations. He disclosed that NASENI’s Innovate Nigeria programme is offering grants of up to ₦250 million to support innovators, inventors and technology-driven enterprises.
He encouraged young people to continually develop their knowledge and skills while creating practical solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
Yiaga Africa also urged Nigerian youths to move beyond discussions by translating their passion into sustained civic engagement before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
Representing the organisation, a speaker encouraged eligible young Nigerians to register to vote, participate actively in elections, reject misinformation, violence and hate speech, and hold elected officials accountable based on issues, performance and integrity rather than personalities or ethnic considerations.
The organisation, which supports the Youth Town Hall under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Programme, also praised the National Assembly for promoting transparency, openness and greater citizen participation through the annual National Assembly Open Week.
Ihonvbere reaffirmed the House of Representatives’ commitment to ensuring that young Nigerians become active partners in governance rather than passive beneficiaries of government policies.
He said the House had intentionally pursued legislation aimed at expanding access to quality education, strengthening digital literacy, promoting entrepreneurship, encouraging innovation and modernising institutions capable of creating sustainable employment opportunities for millions of young Nigerians.
The House Leader also challenged youths to play constructive roles in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Register to vote. Reject violence. Reject vote-buying. Reject misinformation and political cynicism. Base your political choices on evidence and integrity rather than emotion,” he urged.
He stressed that democracy goes beyond voting on election day, noting that genuine democratic governance depends on continuous citizen participation in schools, communities, workplaces, civic organisations and public institutions.
He assured participants that the House of Representatives would continue to strengthen an open, transparent, accountable and inclusive parliament where the ideas, aspirations and voices of young Nigerians help shape national development and deepen democratic governance.
Anambra State Government has acknowledged that former Governor Peter Obi performed well during his tenure, while clarifying that its ongoing scrutiny of his administration’s financial records is not intended to discredit his achievements or political ambitions.
The state Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, made the clarification while addressing the controversy surrounding Obi’s claim that he left no financial liabilities for subsequent administrations.
Mefor said the government’s position was focused on establishing the accuracy of the state’s financial records, particularly claims relating to funds allegedly left behind by the former governor.
He specifically questioned Obi’s assertion that his administration left N12.13 billion in an ecological fund account domiciled with First Bank at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka branch.
According to the commissioner, the state government requested the relevant account statement from the bank but found no evidence supporting the claimed balance.
Mefor, however, stressed that the financial inquiry should not be interpreted as an attempt to diminish Obi’s record in office.
“The intention of the Anambra State government is not to indict Peter Obi. Peter Obi did well as governor.
“There is no rift between Governor Soludo and Peter Obi. They are both in politics, and they have their interests to defend,” he said.
The comments come amid renewed political exchanges between supporters of Obi, the former Anambra governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
While the two politicians have publicly differed over aspects of Anambra’s financial and developmental record, Mefor said the state government’s position was primarily aimed at clarifying the records rather than attacking Obi personally.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said he will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027, despite remaining a member of the opposition Labour Party (LP).
Otti made the clarification during an interview with Arise Television on Friday, where he addressed questions about his relationship with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and his position on Tinubu’s 2027 ambition.
The governor was asked whether his support for Tinubu amounted to a “comfortable arrangement” between him and the ruling party.
Otti agreed with the description, saying his position as a governor and member of the National Economic Council made it difficult for him to openly oppose the President’s re-election bid.
“It works the way you have said. It’s a statement of fact. I am not in a position to oppose his candidacy,” he said.
Otti explained that although he could disagree with some government policies, his membership of the National Economic Council meant he was also part of the broader governance structure through which federal policies and decisions were discussed.
He said openly opposing the President could create unnecessary tension within the system, adding that he preferred to raise disagreements during government meetings.
“And sometimes people don’t understand the opposition. When you say opposition, and you are part of a government, then what you are driving towards is implosion.
“So if I do have a problem with anything, I’ll sit down in one of our meetings and I’ll make my point. So I’m not going to oppose his candidacy,” Otti said.
The Abia governor further stressed that his role in the National Economic Council had placed him directly within the process of implementing and discussing policies of the Federal Government.
“I had also said that as a governor in this republic, that a lot of the things that are being, in fact, I’m part of all the things that have been done as a member of National Economic Council. So, we should distinguish that.
“When somebody now says, ‘Oh, you are supporting or you’re not,’ I have to support him,” he said.
However, Otti appeared to draw a distinction between supporting Tinubu’s re-election and abandoning the Labour Party.
When reminded of his earlier statement that he still had a presidential candidate in the Labour Party, the governor rejected the suggestion that he was referring to Tinubu.
“No, that’s not what I said,” he said.
Asked whether he was referring specifically to a Labour Party presidential candidate, Otti replied, “Yes.”
But when pressed again on whether he supported Tinubu’s 2027 bid, he responded: “What do you expect me to say? To say I’m not supporting him?”
Otti also said Tinubu had the constitutional right to seek another term in office, while noting that some of the President’s policies were consistent with positions he had previously held.
He specifically cited the removal of the petrol subsidy, which he described as unsustainable.
“Quite frankly, there are a lot of things that we have talked about now, that he has implemented, that resonate with me and my thinking.
“People don’t have to agree with me, but from where I sit, I know that for instance, the fuel subsidy was even unsustainable,” Otti said.
Former Osun governor’s absence raises questions as Atiku unveils campaign structure dominated by top political figures
Former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has been left out of the presidential campaign council unveiled by the party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Also absent from the campaign structure is the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
The omissions have attracted attention because both officials occupy key positions in the ADC’s national leadership. The party’s official website currently lists Aregbesola as National Secretary and Abdullahi as National Publicity Secretary.
Atiku approved the composition of the campaign council on Thursday, with Kashim Ibrahim-Imam appointed chairman and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai named deputy chairman.
Senator Austin Akobundu was appointed Director-General and Campaign Manager, while veteran journalist and publisher Dele Momodu will oversee the Media and Communications Directorate. Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye was named Deputy Director-General of the Contact and Mobilisation Directorate.
Former Edo State Governor and ex-national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Oyegun, will chair the Campaign Advisory Board.
The policy team will be headed by Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who contested the ADC presidential primary alongside Atiku, while former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, is also listed as a member.
According to Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s Director of Strategic Communications, the campaign structure was designed around specific responsibilities, with six operational directorates and 30 directors assigned to defined roles.
“This is a structure built for work. Every directorate has a duty. Every director has an assignment. Every appointee must account for results,” Shaibu said.
Why Aregbesola’s absence is attracting attention
Aregbesola’s omission is particularly notable because of his position as one of the senior officers of the opposition party and his involvement in its political activities.
On the same day the campaign council was announced, Aregbesola appeared alongside Atiku and other ADC leaders in Akure, Ondo State, at the reception organised for Eyitayo Jegede, the former governorship candidate who joined the ADC.
However, Abdullahi has played down the significance of the omission.
Speaking to TheCable on Friday, he said the absence of some party leaders from the campaign structure should not be interpreted as evidence of disagreement within the party.
“There are so many party leaders whose names are not there. We play an important role in the party. So, it is not anything,” Abdullahi said.
He argued that the ADC’s national leadership still had to perform its statutory party functions and that removing key national officers from the party structure simply because of the campaign would be counterproductive.
Reported disagreement over campaign structure
Despite that explanation, reports indicate that the composition and structure of the campaign council had generated disagreement within the party.
According to reports, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, who was appointed chairman of the campaign council, and Dino Melaye were involved in compiling the campaign structure before it was submitted to the ADC leadership for consideration.
Aregbesola was reportedly unhappy with aspects of the proposed organogram, particularly the arrangement under which some party executives would be required to report to individuals serving in the campaign structure who are not members of the party’s formal leadership.
He was also reportedly said to have questioned aspects of the composition of the council.
Soludo Govt Admits: ‘Peter Obi Did Well as Anambra Gov Amid Financial Records Dispute
US Sanctions Ground Iranian Airlines as Saudi Attacks Push Oil Above $106
2027: Otti Backs Tinubu, Says Role as Governor Makes Opposition Difficult
-
Politics4 hours ago2027: Wike to lead campaign team for Tinubu’s re-election in FCT, Rivers
-
News4 hours ago184.5kg cocaine bust: NDLEA docks KC Luxury, 2 accomplices, remanded in custody ( Photos)
-
News8 hours agoFCT minister Wike spreads devt as he visits Chukuku in Kuje(Video)
-
News16 hours agoAdeleke justifies UNIOSUN VC’s tenure extension
-
News2 hours agoPope Leo XIV Warns Against AI Risks, Urges World to Protect Human Dignity
-
News1 hour agoNigeria @66: Tinubu Urges Citizens to Keep Faith, Says ‘Light At End of Tunnel