NYGLG Presents Excellence Award to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, Urges Youth Participation in Elections

 

ABUJA, Nigeria — In a symbolic and strategic move to deepen democratic participation, the National Youth for Good Leadership and Governance (NYGLG) has presented a “Certificate of Excellence Award” to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in honour of its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu. The award ceremony, held in the conference room of the INEC headquarters in Abuja, doubled into a platform for a renewed call to youth engagement ahead of forthcoming elections.

Though Professor Yakubu could not attend in person, the certificate was accepted on his behalf by Professor Kunle Ajayi, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Outreach and Partnership Committee. The NYGLG delegation was led by its National President, Engr. Labaran Abubakar, and included other executive officers such as National Vice President Victor Ododo and National Secretary Comrade A.D. Bilal.

In his remarks, Professor Ajayi framed the award not simply as personal recognition, but as a symbol of the Commission’s collective resolve to embed youth voices into Nigeria’s electoral system. He emphasized that the presentation underscored a shared mission — ensuring that the nation’s largest demographic, the youth, are not passive spectators, but active participants in the democratic process.

“The energy and potential of our youth are not just assets; they are necessities for a vibrant democracy,” Professor Ajayi declared. “To exclude such a significant segment of our population from full participation would be a fundamental flaw in governance.”

He noted that youths account for roughly 60 percent of Nigeria’s more than 93 million registered voters, making them the bedrock of democratic legitimacy.

Professor Ajayi then pivoted to what he described as the moment’s urgency: mobilising young Nigerians to register, engage, and vote with purpose. He called on NYGLG and similar organisations to intensify their advocacy and outreach to encourage Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) across the country. At the same time, he issued a stern admonition against vote-selling, characterising it as a form of self-sabotage:

“When a citizen sells their vote, they are not just trading a ballot; they are mortgaging their future — giving up their right to quality education, accountable governance, and a functioning judiciary,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of NYGLG, Comrade A.D. Bilal commended INEC’s leadership under Professor Yakubu. He remarked that the Commission is “far better than it was before his tenure,” pointing particularly to the adoption of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). According to Comrade Bilal, BVAS has played a decisive role in reducing election-related violence, curbing ballot box theft, and limiting electoral malpractices.

However, he did not shy away from criticism. He condemned the rising trend of attacks on INEC facilities during and after elections — fires, vandalism, and destruction — and urged a shift in how frustrated actors respond to perceived electoral injustices:

 “The path to challenging election outcomes lies in the courtroom, not in the burning of public property. We must teach and equip our youth to be champions of the rule of law,” Comrade Bilal said.

INEC’s Deputy Director of Publicity, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, who delivered the closing vote of thanks, acknowledged the symbolism of the all-male delegation from NYGLG and used the moment to reaffirm INEC’s commitment to gender inclusivity in its partnerships. He also touched on a perennial challenge for the Commission — public perception. While conceding that criticisms are inevitable, he appealed to civil society, media, and the public at large to lend more balanced attention to INEC’s incremental progress:

 “It is easy to focus on what we have not achieved. But we ask that Nigerians also take note of the steady improvements — in logistics, technology, and transparency — which are gradually strengthening the credibility of our electoral processes,” Mr. Ifogah said.

The timing and nature of this event are especially notable for several reasons:

1. Youth as electoral leverage

Knowing that youth voters make up a majority of the registered electorate, both government and civil society see in them a critical force for shaping election outcomes. Mobilising this demographic could significantly affect voter turnout, legitimacy, and electoral competitiveness.

2. Institutional partnership over antagonism

By inviting a youth organisation into its inner spaces (the INEC conference room) and recognising its efforts, INEC is signalling a willingness to collaborate with civil society rather than treating it as adversarial. Such posture could foster trust-building and shared ownership of democratic processes.

3. Deterring violence, promoting rule of law

In many past elections, disillusioned young people have been drawn into destructive post-election engagements. By openly condemning such acts and promoting legal recourse, NYGLG and INEC are attempting to redirect disgruntled energy from property destruction to institutional solutions.

4. Technology as safeguard

The BVAS system has already gained prominence as a tool intended to curtail electoral fraud. When youth groups affirm its utility, it helps validate the Commission’s claims of modernisation and integrity, even in the face of skepticism.

Yet, challenges remain. Mobilising youth is more than a slogan; it demands sustained education, logistics, communication, and resource allocation. Vote-selling is deeply embedded in socioeconomic and political realities, and cannot be eradicated by speeches alone. Attacks on electoral facilities may reflect deeper frustrations and structural grievances that require more than admonitions.

The award ceremony marks more than a gesture of honour — it is a strategic signal. INEC is inviting credible youth organisations like NYGLG to become co-drivers in the push for higher voter mobilisation, electoral integrity, and institutional trust. The youth, in turn, are being asked not just to vote, but to vote wisely, resist short-term inducements, and channel their grievances through lawful and institutional means.

As Nigeria approaches its next electoral cycle, what transpires behind the scenes  in youth groups, civil society, and institutions like INEC — may matter as much as what happens at polling stations. The question now is whether this recognition event will translate into sustained, grassroots momentum that can alter Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.