Abuja, 20 January 2026 – In a critical step toward strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections, iLEAD AFRICA convened the Future for Democracy Policy Dialogue in Abuja under the theme “Rebuilding Trust in Nigeria’s Elections through Youth Participation and Civic Innovation.” The one-day forum brought together youth leaders, civic actors, policy specialists, and media representatives to chart actionable pathways for restoring public confidence in electoral institutions.

Opening the dialogue, iLEAD AFRICA’s Chief Executive, Yusuff Liadi Abiodun, emphasized that youth must be seen not only as voters but as co-owners of democratic governance. A key highlight of the discussions was the call for 50/50 representation between youth and adults in political and decision-making spaces over time to counter systemic youth exclusion in politics.

The sessions explored major barriers to youth political engagement, including weak political organization, financial exclusion, limited civic socialization, and voter apathy. Participants proposed practical remedies, such as strengthening youth political blocs, early civic education, active party participation, and advocacy for seamless voter registration processes.

Technology-driven civic engagement also featured prominently, with iLEAD AFRICA’s iMonitor identified as a pivotal tool for election incident reporting, grassroots monitoring of government projects, and youth-led observation networks. Recommendations included INEC accreditation for iMonitor, regionalized observer mapping, USSD and barcode reporting for low-connectivity areas, and high-visibility advocacy campaigns through digital influencers.

Security and peace during elections were highlighted as critical, with participants emphasizing observer neutrality, early identification of violence indicators, and proactive voter education to reduce tensions. The dialogue also stressed evidence-based mapping of electoral hotspots and strategic engagement with INEC to ensure safe deployment of sensitive materials.

Concluding the dialogue, iLEAD AFRICA reaffirmed that rebuilding trust in Nigeria’s elections goes beyond procedural reforms. Youth leadership, credible civic innovation, and sustained collaboration between institutions and citizens are essential to restoring electoral integrity. By centering young people as accountability actors and leveraging technology, iLEAD AFRICA is advancing a new generation of democratic oversight in Nigeria.