Samson Itodo, Executive Director of the election-focused civil society organisation, raised the concern in an analysis titled “Were Young People Removed from Nigeria’s Voter Register?” He argued that the figures require closer examination to determine whether the changes reflect normal ageing, registration patterns or administrative adjustments.

According to the figures cited in his analysis, Nigeria had 93,469,008 registered voters in 2023. Young people aged 18 to 34 accounted for 37,060,399, representing 39.6 per cent of the register.

By 2026, the total number of registered voters had reportedly risen to 103,428,715, an increase of 9,959,707, or approximately 10.66 per cent.

However, the reported number of registered voters aged 18 to 34 fell to 29,777,578, representing 28.79 per cent of the total. That is a decrease of about 7.28 million compared with 2023, while the group’s share of the register dropped by approximately 10.8 percentage points.

In contrast, the number of registered voters aged 35 to 49 reportedly increased from 33,413,591 in 2023 to 43,265,946 in 2026. The category now accounts for 41.83 per cent of the register, according to the figures presented.

Itodo cautioned against interpreting the decline in the youth category as proof that young voters had been removed from the register. He noted that people naturally move between age groups over time.

For example, Nigerians who were aged 32, 33 or 34 in 2023 would have moved into the 35–49 age bracket by 2026. This could help explain some of the decline in the younger category and the corresponding increase among middle-aged voters.

Nevertheless, he maintained that ageing alone may not explain the entire change. The number of newly registered voters in each age group, along with any corrections or removals from the register, must also be considered.

The central question, according to the analysis, is whether enough newly eligible young Nigerians are registering to replace those who move out of the 18–34 category as they grow older.

Nigeria’s voter register has continued to expand over successive election cycles. The figures cited by Itodo show an increase from 68,833,476 registered voters in 2015 to 84,004,084 in 2019, representing growth of approximately 22.04 per cent.

The register rose to 93,469,008 in 2023, an increase of 11.27 per cent from 2019. The reported 2026 total represents a further increase of 10.66 per cent.

Although the number of additional voters recorded between 2023 and 2026 was slightly higher than the increase between 2019 and 2023, the percentage growth was marginally lower. The periods also differ in length: the latest comparison covers three years, while the previous election cycles each span four years.

Itodo urged INEC to publish a detailed age-cohort analysis covering the 2015, 2019, 2023 and 2026 registers. He said the breakdown should explain new registrations, movement between age categories, the removal of deceased or otherwise ineligible voters, and other adjustments made to the register.

He argued that clearer information would help establish whether the decline in young voters’ share reflects insufficient registration among newly eligible citizens, demographic changes or administrative revisions.

If the data reveals a shortfall in youth registration, it could guide more targeted voter education and mobilisation campaigns. If administrative adjustments account for the changes, INEC should explain them publicly to strengthen confidence in the electoral process.

With the 2027 general elections approaching, the debate highlights the importance of understanding not only how many Nigerians are registered to vote, but also how different age groups are represented and whether eligible citizens are being adequately captured.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia