The founder of the non-governmental organisation, Nation of Justice (NOJ), Mr. Jyde Adelakun, has called for an amendment to the Electoral Act to enable Nigerians who will attain the age of 18 on or before January 16, 2027, to participate in the 2027 general election.
Adelakun made the appeal in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and copied to relevant government institutions, describing the current electoral framework as an avoidable barrier to youth participation in the democratic process.
According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concluded the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on July 26, 2026, several months ahead of the election, thereby excluding many young Nigerians who would attain voting age before election day but after the registration deadline.
He argued that while the Electoral Act provides a period of 90 days between the close of voter registration and an election, the current arrangement effectively disenfranchises citizens who become eligible to vote after the registration window closes.
Rather than calling on the President to interfere with INEC’s constitutional independence, Adelakun urged the Presidency to exercise its legislative powers by initiating an amendment to the Electoral Act.
He called on President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to prepare and transmit an Executive Bill seeking amendments to the law.
Among the proposed changes are reducing the voter registration deadline to not later than 60 days before an election and allowing citizens who are 17 years old but will attain the age of 18 on or before election day to register in advance, with their registration becoming valid once they reach adulthood.
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“We respectfully urge Your Excellency to direct the Honourable Attorney-General to prepare and transmit an Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill providing that registration should close not later than 60 days before an election and that a citizen aged 17 who will attain 18 on or before polling day may register in advance, with the registration taking effect upon attaining the age of majority,” the letter stated.
The organisation also urged the President to seek accelerated consideration of the proposed legislation by the National Assembly, pledge prompt assent upon its passage and provide supplementary funding to support expanded voter registration nationwide.
Beyond legislative action, the group recommended that government agencies under the executive arm, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), be mobilised to support National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment, voter education and lawful registration of eligible young Nigerians.
NOJ argued that the issue extends beyond electoral administration to the broader principles of democratic inclusion and equal citizenship.
According to the organisation, the current Electoral Act only permits citizens who are already 18 years old at the point of registration to register as voters, thereby excluding those who attain the legal voting age before election day but after the registration deadline.
It maintained that the affected young Nigerians would still be subject to the decisions of governments elected without their participation, despite having attained full legal adulthood.
“These citizens have broken no law. They have not delayed. They are excluded solely because they were born too late for a register and too soon for the silence it imposes. In a republic whose median age is under twenty, they number in the hundreds of thousands.
“Only the National Assembly can cure this by amending the Electoral Act. And the National Assembly moves fastest when the Presidency moves first,” the organisation stated.
Adelakun emphasised that the appeal was not politically motivated but aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“This is not a partisan request,” the organisation said, adding that expanding electoral participation would enhance democratic legitimacy, accountability and public trust.
“The young citizens excluded by the present rule are not known to belong to any political party; nobody has asked them because nobody may. They will either be enfranchised or not before any of them casts a vote.
“Whichever party they eventually support, the Republic is stronger for their inclusion and poorer for their silence.
“A President who enfranchises those who could not yet have supported him performs one of the rarest acts in politics — a service to the country that cannot be repaid at the polls.”
NOJ urged the Presidency to act before the next voter registration cycle by transmitting the proposed amendment bill to the National Assembly, seeking expedited legislative consideration, supporting adequate electoral funding and directing relevant agencies to facilitate wider youth participation.
The organisation said it remained willing to provide technical support to any government initiative aimed at expanding electoral inclusion before the 2027 general election.
“We seek nothing for ourselves. We are willing to appear before any minister, committee or council, provide any material required and place our platforms and our diaspora network at the service of any step Your Excellency takes towards expanding democratic participation,” the letter added.