Improved voter education will boost election turnout in Nigeria – Yiaga Africa

Nigeria’s declining voter turnout remains a pressing issue, and addressing it requires a multi-faceted approach, a policy brief championed by Yiaga Africa has revealed.

The brief, presented on Thursday in Abuja during a roundtable organised by Yiaga Africa with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) highlights the need for improved voter education, better election management, and reforms in the registration process.

It recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collaborate with civil society organisations (CSOs), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and political parties to design a more effective voter education strategy.

Speaking, the lead researcher Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu and Dr. Remi Aiyede from the University of Ibadan identified key measures to boost participation.

These include enhancing voting services, ensuring security, and addressing logistical and psychological barriers that discourage voters.

“Strict and unbiased enforcement of electoral laws—such as penalties for voter intimidation, hate speech, and violence—is crucial to building trust and accountability,” the report noted.

The study emphasised the need for a multi-platform approach to reach diverse audiences. Social media can engage younger, urban voters, while radio and television remain vital for older and rural populations.

“Community outreach, town halls, and grassroots initiatives should target marginalised groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities, with materials in local languages and accessible formats.

The report identifies three predominant models of voting behaviour in Nigeria:Self-interest voting,collective well-being voting and candidate/party loyalty voting.

Speaking with Journalists on the sidelines of the policy brief,Yiaga Africa’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, clarified that Nigeria does not need a new voter register but rather a thorough clean-up of the existing one, which is the largest database of registered voters in Africa.

He suggested a revalidation exercise for voters registered since 2011. “If a voter does not show up to revalidate their details, they should be removed from the register,” he said.

Itodo also raised concerns over the cost of elections, explaining that ballot papers are printed based on the total number of registered voters. With only 27% turnout in the 2023 elections, he noted that millions of ballot papers went to waste, amounting to billions of naira that could have been invested in healthcare, education, or small businesses.

He further questioned the continued use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), advocating for a system where national identity cards or passports could serve as valid voter identification.

“Many Nigerians were disenfranchised in the last election because INEC did not produce their PVCs. If we already have their details in the voter register, why not allow them to vote with an accepted national identity document?”

Itodo argued that political parties should play a greater role in mobilising voters, rather than relying solely on CSOs and the media.

“Political parties are the biggest beneficiaries of elections, yet they invest little in voter mobilisation. Instead of inducing voters with money, they should focus on civic engagement,” he stated.

He also suggested that schools and universities establish clubs to educate young people about democracy beyond elections.

“Democracy is about holding leaders accountable, not just voting every four years,” he said.

INEC’s Director of Research and Documentation, Ibrahim Sani, acknowledged the challenges in cleaning up Nigeria’s voter register.

“There is no clear legal provision in Nigeria on how to remove ineligible voters from the register. This creates legal, cultural, and technical obstacles for INEC.”