Yiaga Africa, an NGO, says the number of young people under 35 expected to participate in the forthcoming general elections has declined by a further 20 per cent, despite the enactment of the Not Too Young to Run law.

The executive director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, made this known at the Ready To Run Bootcamp for young candidates of political parties under the age of 35 years in Lagos on Friday.

The programme, which is funded by the European Union, has the theme: “Ready to Run Bootcamp: From Aspiration to Representation”.

Mr Itodo, represented by Yiaga Africa’s programme coordinator, Ibrahim Faruk, said that following the passage of the law in 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari, young people under 35 constituted 38 per cent of candidates in the 2019 general elections.

The executive director said the percentage dropped further to about 28 per cent in 2023, attributing the decline to the high costs of nomination forms and campaigning, along with party structures and primary control, among others.

He added that this leaned toward established interests, which had pushed young people to the margins and made securing political tickets difficult.

Mr Itodo said, “The first thing Yiaga is doing is what we are doing here today, you know, there is the narrative that says young people are not ready to run.

“Yiaga Africa is also changing that narrative to say young people are ready to run, and we are doing that through the Ready to Run boot camps to ensure that young people are ready to run.

“We will continue to advocate for an electoral process that accommodates more young people, is more inclusive, less expensive and as democratic as possible.”

Mr Itodo urged INEC and stakeholders to emphasise ensuring a credible, secure, and logistically sound electoral process whose outcomes reflect the will of the people.

He also urged young Nigerians to collect their permanent voter cards (PVCs), participate fully and peacefully as voters, candidates, or agents, and refuse to sit out the democratic process.

In his remarks, the founder of the African Governance Institute for Development, Seyi Adisa, admitted that running for office is more difficult for young people, as elections require not only financial resources but also “social capital”.

Mr Adisa said although some established political parties have strong structures, many are open to young candidates if they bring value, capacity, and strong backing from their party and peers.

A facilitator, Samuel Oguche, said that while aspiration is encouraged, candidates must “play by the rules” for democracy to thrive; the rule of law must reign, which means obeying the law rather than violating it.

Mr Oguche said candidates must know the terrain of elections is regulated by law, governed by instruments such as the Constitution, the Electoral Act, INEC regulations and guidelines, and the internal rules of political parties and judicial authorities.

Speaking to journalists, Oladipupo Ogunseye, the ADC candidate for House of Representatives, Mushin II, Lagos State, said youth participation faces major barriers.

Mr Ogunseye, who said he started politics at 18, said contesting political office requires substantial financial, mental, and emotional resources, as well as experience and relationship-building.

According to him, because of these demands, many young people do not actively contest office, though many are involved in political party membership and youth group activities.

To bridge the gap between perception and reality, he noted that the entry barrier must be lowered so more young people could participate as candidates and aspirants.

(NAN)