The Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija), a national coalition of youth-led organizations, has issued a New Year’s appeal to the National Assembly, demanding an accelerated timeline for electoral reforms to safeguard the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released on January 1, 2026, Bukola Idowu, Executive Director of Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) and National Coordinator of YERP-Naija, highlighted a significant “legislative gap” between the two chambers. While the House of Representatives concluded its voting on the Electoral Act amendments by December 2025, the Senate embarked on its end-of-year recess without commencing the voting process.
A Tale of Two Chambers
The coalition commended the House of Representatives for its proactive leadership. Under the guidance of Hon. Adebayo Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on INEC, the Green Chamber has already endorsed landmark reforms, including:
Legalizing BVAS: Formally recognizing the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System as the primary accreditation tool.
Electronic Transmission: Mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results to enhance transparency.
Litigation Reform: Provisions to reduce the timelines for election-related legal disputes.
Campaign Finance: Approved adjustments to campaign spending limits.
However, YERP-Naija expressed “deep concern” that the Senate’s inaction introduces dangerous uncertainty into the reform timeline. “As the Senate prepares to reconvene, we urge Senators to prioritize the clause-by-clause consideration of these bills,” stated Idowu. “Delays risk repeating the systemic failures of previous cycles.”
The YERP-Naija Reform Agenda
The coalition, supported by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), has spent the past year mobilizing youth across all 36 states. Their core recommendations for the 2027 cycle include:
Independent INEC Appointments: Removing the President’s power to appoint the INEC Chairperson and top officials to ensure neutrality.
Judicial Timelines: Ensuring all election petitions are concluded before the inauguration of public office holders.
Electoral Offences Commission: Establishing a dedicated body to prosecute electoral malpractice.
Continuous Registration: Guaranteeing that voter registration remains open and accessible.
Youth Inclusion: Lowering nomination fees for political parties to encourage young candidates.
A Call to Patriotism
YERP-Naija emphasizes that these reforms are not partisan requests but essential safeguards for national cohesion. The group warns that the decisions made in the coming weeks by the National Assembly will fundamentally shape public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
“We call on our lawmakers to demonstrate leadership and foresight,” the statement concluded. “These reforms reflect the aspirations of young Nigerians who are eager to participate in a transparent and peaceful electoral process.”
