Youth Group Applauds National Assembly’s Push For Inclusive Early Voting Reform.
The Unemployed Youth Initiative (UYI) has lauded the National Assembly for introducing a progressive bill aimed at establishing early voting provisions for key segments of Nigeria’s population, including police officers, prison inmates, and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the group, which represents unemployed, underemployed, and marginalised citizens across the country, described the initiative as a welcome development that could enhance democratic participation and ensure that no eligible citizen is left behind in the electoral process.
Jointly led by Comrades Danesi Momoh and Igwe Ude-Umanta, UYI urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act swiftly to implement inclusive voting mechanisms. They proposed the introduction of early and remote voting options for military personnel, paramilitary agencies, NYSC members, and prison inmates, all of whom are often unable to vote due to deployment, transfers, or incarceration.
The group further recommended that INEC establish a secure registration and voting system using unique codes to allow eligible individuals to cast their votes from any location. They also called for the creation of functional polling units within correctional facilities, ensuring that inmates retain their fundamental right to vote.
“At the heart of any democracy lies a sacred principle: the right to vote. It is the core of participatory governance—the mechanism through which the people confer legitimacy on the state,” the group stated.
UYI stressed that the right to vote must not be treated as an afterthought. “In a democracy as fragile and aspirational as Nigeria’s, where voter apathy and distrust already loom large, inclusive reforms reinforce patriotism, deepen public trust, and strengthen the democratic fabric,” they said.
Highlighting the scale of the issue, the group pointed to the disenfranchisement of over 1.6 million citizens in previous elections, warning that such systemic exclusion could have far-reaching consequences on electoral outcomes. “In the 2023 presidential election, the margin of victory was approximately 1.81 million votes—comparable to the number of excluded voters. This is not merely an oversight; it is a democratic crisis,” the statement read.
UYI concluded by calling for immediate action: “The time for reform is now. Every vote must count—because every voice matters.”
The bill, which is currently under consideration by the National Assembly, has been widely regarded as a bold step towards deepening Nigeria’s democratic principles and ensuring that elections are truly representative of all voices within the nation.
