Abstract

Abstract

Purpose: This article critically examines the role of youth political participation in democratic renewal in Nigeria, a key context within Africa’s broader democratic trajectory. While the youth constitute a demographic majority, their participation in formal electoral politics remains constrained by structural, institutional, and socio-economic barriers. This study interrogates how youth engagement in electoral processes during and around the 2023 general elections reflects emerging patterns of inclusion, agency, and democratic transformation.

Design/Methodology: Employing a qualitative methodology, the paper synthesizes a systematic review of secondary scholarly literature with  interview insights from Nigerian youth political activists. Key themes include voter turnout trends, legislative reforms such as the Not Too Young to Run Act, constrained optimism in electoral engagement, and party politics dynamics.

Findings: Findings indicate that despite increased youth voter registration ahead of the 2023 elections, meaningful political influence remains elusive for many youths due to enduring institutional obstacles such as party financing barriers, limited access to candidacy, and pervasive electoral violence (Davis & Turnbull, 2024; Okoye & Tokpo, 2024). Youths demonstrate high civic self-efficacy but face constrained opportunities to translate participation into representation. Legislative reforms have had mixed effectiveness in promoting youth candidacy.

Originality/Value: This paper contributes to scholarship on African democratic renewal by foregrounding youth electoral participation as both an indicator and a driver of democratic quality. It critically interrogates the disjuncture between youth electoral activism and sustained political empowerment in democratic governance.

Keywords: Youth political participation; Nigeria; democratic renewal; electoral engagement; African democracy; Not Too Young to Run.