Ahead of the 2027 elections, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has expressed support for a proposed bill seeking to reserve 30 per cent of seats in Nigeria’s parliament for young people.

IPAC National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, stated this at the Dialogue4Change Policy Roundtable organised by the Youth Quota in Parliament Advocacy in Abuja.

Dantalle, represented at the event by the council’s National Treasurer, Dr. Dipo Olayoku, reaffirmed IPAC’s support for inclusive political participation.

He said the proposed legislation aligns with ongoing efforts to deepen democracy and strengthen representation of young people, women, and persons with disabilities in elective offices.

“The aim, objective and purpose of the bill is valuable and should be supported by all lovers of inclusive democracy and pathway to strengthening governance in Nigeria,” he said.

The bill, according to him, seeks to establish a 30 per cent quota for youths under 35 years of age in both national and state legislatures, and is designed to complement existing reforms such as the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act.

He noted that while the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act had opened up political space for young aspirants by lowering age requirements for elective offices, more deliberate measures were still needed to translate eligibility into actual representation.

Dantalle added that political parties must take intentional steps to reduce barriers limiting youth participation, particularly the high cost of nomination forms and internal party structures that discourage young aspirants.

He also urged young Nigerians to begin early preparations ahead of the 2027 election cycle, noting that party primaries and nomination processes would commence in 2026.

“The nomination timeline is critical. Those who fail to position themselves within the stipulated timeframe will not be part of the 2027 elections,” he warned.

Convener of the Dialogue4Change initiative, Hon. Blessing Oyefeso, described the roundtable as a key milestone in the push for legislative reforms on youth representation in parliament.

He said the bill, first introduced in October 2025, had already passed its first reading in the House of Representatives in November 2025 and was progressing through the legislative process.

Oyefeso said the advocacy goes beyond legislation, stressing the need for political party commitments to ensure meaningful youth participation in the next electoral cycle.

“Our objective is to secure at least 20 per cent youth representation in the 11th National Assembly. We are not asking for charity, but for equity, inclusion, and the future of our democracy.”

Also speaking, the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Comrade Onyebuchi Eze, called for a structural shift in Nigeria’s political system to reflect the country’s youthful population.

He argued that although young people constitute a significant majority of the population, they remain underrepresented in decision-making processes that shape their future.

“If youths are truly the leaders of tomorrow, then they must also be active participants in shaping today,” he said.

Eze added that unlike corporate institutions that deliberately prepare succession plans, Nigeria’s political system has not adequately created pathways for youth leadership development.

Participants at the event also expressed mixed concerns over youth participation in politics.

Some speakers said young Nigerians were not yet adequately represented in governance despite their numerical strength and education, calling for stronger inclusion ahead of the 2027 elections.

Others criticised what they described as persistent barriers limiting youth participation, including high political costs and limited access to party structures.

There were also concerns raised about the broader political environment, with some participants alleging that trust in electoral processes was weakening, while urging reforms to strengthen institutions and restore confidence.