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The 2023 Nigerian Elections: A New Dawn for Youth Engagement?

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The 2023 general elections in Nigeria promise to be a crucial moment for the country's youth, who have been galvanized by the #EndSARS protests in 2020. The protests highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with Nigeria's security, political, and economic governance, and the government's response has triggered an emigration surge. For many #EndSARS protestors, the 2023 polls will be their first chance as eligible voters to choose their leaders. The conduct of the two main parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the presidential primaries has been dismal, with rampant allegations of vote buying. The four serious contenders for the presidency are Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the APC and PDP, and Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the Labour Party and New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP).

Key Takeaways:

  • The 2023 Nigerian elections may mark a new dawn for youth engagement, with a significant surge in voter registration, especially among young people who participated in the #EndSARS protests.
  • The presidential primaries were marred by allegations of vote buying, with the APC primaries being a case study of the flawed and exclusionary nature of Nigerian politics.
  • The four serious contenders for the presidency are Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, all of whom have well-documented corruption or criminal cases at home and abroad.
  • Peter Obi, who is 60 and from the Igbo ethnic group, is perceived as playing politics differently, with a focus on solving Nigeria's problems through "facts and figures" and a commitment to moving the country from "consumption to production."
  • Obi's support has grown among young people, particularly in the #ENDSARS demographic, who see him as a ray of hope for changing the country's fortunes.
  • The relative obscurity of Obi's Labour Party is a challenge for his supporters, but they are using mobilisation skills transferred from the protests to campaign for him.

Statistics:

  • The #EndSARS demographic is estimated to make up over 70% of registered voters in Nigeria.
  • Voter registration has surged, especially among young people, following the primaries.
  • The number of unsolicited donations pouring in to support Peter Obi's campaign has not been quantified.
  • The relative decline in voter turnout in Nigeria over the past 20 years has been significant, but recent developments suggest that the youth may become a voting bloc to reckon with in the 2023 elections.

Sources:

  • "Teniola Tayo, Researcher, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin" (ISS Today)
  • "Premium Times" (Premium Times syndication partner)
  • "AllAfrica Global Media" (allAfrica.com)

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