LAGOS, Jan. 9, 2026 – Many Nigerian youths lack basic knowledge of their political representatives, a recent study has revealed, raising concerns about the state of democracy and political consciousness among the country’s younger population.
James Ojo, a Nigerian journalist and researcher, made the revelation while presenting findings from his study titled “Comparative Analysis of Online Advocacy for Good Governance and Actual Political Involvement among Nigerian Youths”, published by the International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR) on December 31, 2025.
According to Ojo, the study, which surveyed 385 youths across Nigeria via social media, found that most respondents were unaware of their representatives at ward, state assembly, federal house, and senate levels, both in their states of residence and origin.
Awareness was higher for governors and local government chairmen in states of residence, but knowledge of representatives in states of origin was generally low.
Despite this gap in political awareness, the study found that Nigerian youths are highly active in online advocacy.
More than half (51.2%) reported engaging in daily political discussions, primarily on WhatsApp, followed by Facebook and X. Common activities included commenting on political issues and sharing governance-related content.
However, offline political participation was markedly low. Over 50% of respondents had never voted, protested, or attended political rallies.
Among those who did participate offline, engagement was irregular, and most had not joined political parties or attended political training sessions.
Fear of violence, lack of interest, and distrust in the electoral body were cited as major barriers to offline involvement.
Yet, the study also highlighted positive signs: offline participation was mainly motivated by a desire to promote good governance (69.7%), personal civic beliefs, and dissatisfaction with government policies.
Most youths who participated offline also possessed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and had voted in previous elections.
Ojo stressed that online advocacy alone is insufficient for achieving good governance. “Beyond online engagement, youths must actively participate in offline political activities, such as voting, attending rallies, and engaging in genuine protests, to drive real reforms in Nigeria,” he said.
The researcher called for urgent reforms to improve security before, during, and after elections, increase civic education, and restore youth confidence in the electoral process.
According to him, 84.2% of respondents said they would be more active in offline political activities if concerns over security, transparency, and electoral credibility were addressed.
“This study should worry us,” Ojo said. “When young people do not even know who represents them, it becomes difficult to demand accountability. Good governance is anchored on transparency and civic participation, and these gaps highlight the need for urgent interventions.”
