Authors :
Bob Odey USHIE; Yusufu Ali ZOAKA
Volume/Issue :
Volume 7 - 2022, Issue 9 - September
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3IIfn9N
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3gs4Mar
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7237990
Abstract :
Political participation remains one of the
significant features of democracy, and youth
participation in democracy in increasingly experienced
all over the world. This expected in Nigeria as the 2023
general elections draws closer. This has informed this
paper with the objective to appraise youths, democratic
participation and the Nigerian electoral process. The aim
of the paper is to consider the prospects of youth
participation in 2023 in relation to their antecedents to
political participation through Nigeria’s democratic
history; as well as the challenges faced by the youths and
generally Nigeria’s democratic process as will be tested
in 2023. Secondary data was used to get insight into the
current situation of youth activities and their drive
towards improved political participation in electoral
process. The selection of literatures was carefully done
by accessing university data bases, academic peer review
journals sites and other articles. The literatures chosen
were those whose objectives were coherent with the
interest of the current paper; particularly those that
effectively discussed youths’ participation in the
democratic and electoral processes. The findings of the
paper as derived from literatures reviewed indicated
that Nigerian youths have been active participants in the
political process of the country from independence till
date, and even through different forms of government
(Military and Civilian). There are pointers to the
prospect of a possible good outing for youths in 2023
going by series of activities leading to increasing
consciousness of the youths and driving them to become
active participants. From the Not too young to Run
campaign, to the EndSARS protest and the youth
concerts encouraging youth registration for PVCs are a
pointer that the youths might now be ready to take
advantage of the numerical strength in deciding the
outcome of the elections in 2023. However, the paper also
discovered that challenges such as poverty,
godfatherism, age limitations etc. have been the
impediments to youth participation in electoral process
in Nigeria. The paper recommended that empowerment
programmes directed at the youths, access to education;
employment opportunities and sensitizations on religious
tolerance amongst the youths should be developed so as
to help the youths sustain the current momentum
towards the 2023 general elections.
Keywords :
Youths, Democracy, Political Participation, Electoral process, Nigeria Prospects, Challenges.
Political participation remains one of the
significant features of democracy, and youth
participation in democracy in increasingly experienced
all over the world. This expected in Nigeria as the 2023
general elections draws closer. This has informed this
paper with the objective to appraise youths, democratic
participation and the Nigerian electoral process. The aim
of the paper is to consider the prospects of youth
participation in 2023 in relation to their antecedents to
political participation through Nigeria’s democratic
history; as well as the challenges faced by the youths and
generally Nigeria’s democratic process as will be tested
in 2023. Secondary data was used to get insight into the
current situation of youth activities and their drive
towards improved political participation in electoral
process. The selection of literatures was carefully done
by accessing university data bases, academic peer review
journals sites and other articles. The literatures chosen
were those whose objectives were coherent with the
interest of the current paper; particularly those that
effectively discussed youths’ participation in the
democratic and electoral processes. The findings of the
paper as derived from literatures reviewed indicated
that Nigerian youths have been active participants in the
political process of the country from independence till
date, and even through different forms of government
(Military and Civilian). There are pointers to the
prospect of a possible good outing for youths in 2023
going by series of activities leading to increasing
consciousness of the youths and driving them to become
active participants. From the Not too young to Run
campaign, to the EndSARS protest and the youth
concerts encouraging youth registration for PVCs are a
pointer that the youths might now be ready to take
advantage of the numerical strength in deciding the
outcome of the elections in 2023. However, the paper also
discovered that challenges such as poverty,
godfatherism, age limitations etc. have been the
impediments to youth participation in electoral process
in Nigeria. The paper recommended that empowerment
programmes directed at the youths, access to education;
employment opportunities and sensitizations on religious
tolerance amongst the youths should be developed so as
to help the youths sustain the current momentum
towards the 2023 general elections.
Keywords :
Youths, Democracy, Political Participation, Electoral process, Nigeria Prospects, Challenges.
