Once upon a time in the bustling streets of Lagos, a group of young Nigerians gathered in a small room, their faces lit with the fire of determination. They were not politicians, nor were they seasoned activists; they were everyday citizens—students, entrepreneurs, artists, and dreamers—united by a common purpose: to reclaim the integrity of Nigeria's democracy.

The Birth of a Movement

It all began after the last general elections when the disillusionment was palpable. The air was thick with stories of electoral malpractice - violence, voter suppression and logistical challenge in some areas. The youth made up a significant portion of the electorate, some of them felt their dreams slipping away with each of the malpractices experienced. But instead of succumbing to despair, they chose to fight back—with ideas, with passion, and with a plan.

One of the leaders of this burgeoning movement, a young woman named Amaka, stood up in that small room and said, “We need to rewrite the rules. If we don’t, our future will be stolen from us.” And so, the youth began to craft a list—a list of the most urgent, transformative reforms that could restore Nigeria’s electoral system to its true purpose: serving the people.

The Quest for Truth: A Nationwide Journey

But crafting a list was just the beginning. Amaka and her peers knew they needed to understand the depth of the issues, to hear the voices of other young Nigerians across the country. They began their journey with a simple yet powerful tool: a non-scientific survey. Over the course of several weeks, they gathered responses from 4,324 young Nigerians—students, workers, the unemployed, and young professionals—each sharing their frustrations, hopes, and ideas for change.

This survey became the foundation of their work. The data they collected wasn’t just numbers; it was the raw, unfiltered voice of Nigeria’s youth, crying out for a system that would not betray their future.

The Regional Assemblies: Voices of a Generation

With the survey data in hand, the movement’s leaders knew they needed to go deeper. They organized Regional Youth Forums across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones. In cities like Lokoja, Lafia, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Lagos and Borno, young people gathered to discuss, debate, and refine the ideas that had emerged from the survey.

Each forum was like a spark, igniting the passion and commitment of those who attended. Stories were shared of election day frustrations, of watching votes disappear into the void of corruption, of the deep yearning for a process that was fair and just. At each forum, the youth refined their vision, adding nuance to their demands and building a consensus on what needed to be done.

After the Regional Youth Forum, the young people sat with election expert to look at the feasibility of the recommendations viz-a-viz the existing extant law. These recommendations were then streamlined to 35.

The National Convergence: A Dream Takes Shape

The journey culminated in the heart of the capital, Abuja, where the movement’s leaders convened a National Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Youth-led Electoral Reforms. It was here, in the corridors of power, that the voices of Nigeria’s youth rang the loudest.

This wasn’t just a meeting of the youth; it was a convergence of stakeholders—civil society groups, government officials, electoral experts, and traditional leaders—coming together to listen to the demands of the next generation. The recommendations that emerged from the regional forums were put to the test, scrutinised, debated, and ultimately, shaped into a powerful manifesto for change. These debates led into expounging some recommendations because, leaving the final consensus recommendation to be 13.

After all of these, Danladi suggested that the group should begin to craft a list—a list of the most urgent, transformative reforms that could restore Nigeria’s electoral system to its true purpose: serving the people.

1. A New Guardian of Democracy

The first item on their list was a radical shift in how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was structured. “Imagine,” said Tunde, a law student with a penchant for political philosophy, “if the power to appoint INEC’s leaders was taken out of the hands of politicians entirely.”

They envisioned a Special Selection Committee—a body composed of non-partisan individuals, people of unquestionable character, who would be responsible for appointing INEC’s Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners. The youth believed that such a committee would restore public trust in the electoral process, ensuring that those who oversee elections are motivated by integrity, not political gain.

This reform wasn’t just about changing a few names on an appointment list. It was about reclaiming INEC as a true guardian of democracy, free from the shadows of partisanship.

2. Justice Before Power

But the youth didn’t stop there. They had seen too many times how politicians, whose victories were still being contested in court, would be sworn into office, wielding power before justice could be served. “This must end,” declared Chijioke, a recent graduate with a fierce love for justice.

Their second reform called for all election disputes to be resolved before any winner could be inaugurated. This would ensure that justice was not only done but seen to be done. No longer would the courts be forced to chase after those already in power; instead, the playing field would be leveled, giving every litigant a fair chance.

3. The Hunt for the Electoral Offenders

As the discussion moved forward, the room buzzed with ideas. The third reform was born out of frustration—frustration with the impunity that electoral offenders enjoyed. INEC, burdened with its vast responsibilities, lacked the capacity to prosecute these crimes effectively.

Enter the idea of an Electoral Offences Commission—a dedicated body tasked solely with bringing electoral offenders to justice. This reform, the youth believed, would strike fear into the hearts of those who thought they could manipulate elections without consequence. It was about accountability, about ensuring that the rule of law was upheld, even in the high-stakes world of Nigerian elections.

4. Transparency in Real-Time

As the conversation deepened, the focus shifted to the need for transparency. “What if we could watch the results come in, live, from anywhere in the world?” suggested Aisha, an IT enthusiast who had been following global advancements in election technology.

The fourth reform was simple yet revolutionary: mandating INEC to transmit election results online at every stage. By doing so, they argued, the process would become transparent to all, reducing the chances of manipulation and increasing public trust. The youth knew that transparency was the key to a credible electoral process, and this reform was their answer to the opaque practices of the past.

5. Let Every Voice Be Heard

The final reform on their list was perhaps the most personal. Many in the room had turned 18 during the months when voter registration was halted, missing their chance to participate in their first election. “How can we call it continuous registration if it stops?” asked Fatima, a poet who had used her words to inspire others to vote.

Their solution was to redefine “continuous voter registration” to mean exactly that—non-stop, year-round registration. They proposed reducing the cutoff period before elections from 90 to 60 days, ensuring that new voters could register and participate in the democratic process. This reform was about inclusion, about making sure that every Nigerian, regardless of when they came of age, could have their voice heard.

The Future They Dreamed Of

As the evening drew to a close, the youth looked at the list they had created. It was more than a list of reforms—it was a manifesto for a better Nigeria, a country where elections would truly reflect the will of the people. They knew the road ahead would be long and difficult, but they were ready to fight for these changes, not just for themselves, but for the generations to come.

This is the story of Nigeria’s youth, standing on the brink of history, armed with nothing but their ideas and their determination. They are the keepers of the flame, the ones who will ignite the future of our democracy.

Will you join them in this fight? The time for change is now. Let’s rewrite the story of Nigeria’s democracy—together.