Saraki urges youth to seize voter registration, decries low turnout in 2023 elections

Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has called on young Nigerians to actively participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of future elections.

In a statement on his official X account on Tuesday, Saraki reminded Nigerians—particularly the youth—that voter registration and turnout are critical to shaping the nation’s political and economic future.

Citing statistics from the 2023 general elections, the former Kwara State governor lamented that despite nearly 94 million Nigerians registering to vote, only about 24 million people—representing 26.7 percent—eventually cast their ballots.

He added that young Nigerians, who made up almost 40 percent of registered voters, largely stayed away from polling units on election day.

“Across Nigeria, the Continuous Voter Registration has begun, and with it comes another opportunity to shape our future together,” Saraki said.

“In 2023, young Nigerians showed great promise, as nearly 40 percent of registered voters were between 18 and 34, and over 93 million collected their PVCs. Yet only 26.7 percent turned out to vote.

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Out of almost 94 million who registered, just about 24 million cast their ballots. That gap speaks to the silence of that demographic when it comes to decision-making, and silence does not build nations.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported that 69,376 prospective voters pre-registered online within seven hours of the CVR exercise opening on Tuesday, indicating what may be a renewed interest in voter participation.

Saraki, however, stressed that registration must translate into actual voting during elections.

“Your vote is your voice. Your ballot is your power. With it, you choose leaders, you shape policies, and you decide the direction of your community, your state, and your country. Whether young or old, in town or village, every registration strengthens our common voice, and every vote reinforces our shared destiny,” he said.

The ex-Senate president also made a special appeal to residents of Kwara, describing the state as a “State of Harmony” that can only thrive when all citizens take responsibility for governance.