The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has endorsed a proposed bill seeking to allocate 30 per cent of seats in Nigeria’s parliament to young people, as calls for increased youth inclusion gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
IPAC National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, made the position known during the Dialogue4Change Policy Roundtable organised by the Youth Quota in Parliament Advocacy in Abuja. He was represented at the event by the council’s National Treasurer, Dr. Dipo Olayoku.
Dantalle reaffirmed the council’s commitment to inclusive political participation, noting that the proposed legislation would strengthen democratic governance by enhancing representation for youths, women and persons with disabilities.
He described the bill as a significant step toward deepening democracy, explaining that it seeks to reserve 30 per cent of legislative seats at both national and state levels for Nigerians under the age of 35. According to him, the proposal is designed to complement reforms such as the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act by translating eligibility into actual political representation.
The IPAC chairman also called on political parties to dismantle barriers hindering youth participation, particularly the high cost of nomination forms and restrictive internal party structures. He urged young Nigerians to begin early preparations for the 2027 elections, warning that those who fail to engage within party timelines may miss out on the process.
Convener of the Dialogue4Change initiative, Hon. Blessing Oyefeso, described the roundtable as a major milestone in the push for legislative reforms aimed at boosting youth representation. He disclosed that the bill, introduced in October 2025, had passed its first reading in the House of Representatives the following month and was advancing through the legislative process.
Oyefeso stressed that the advocacy extends beyond legislation, calling for firm commitments from political parties to ensure meaningful youth inclusion. He added that the initiative aims to secure at least 20 per cent youth representation in the 11th National Assembly.
Also speaking, the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Comrade Onyebuchi Eze, advocated structural reforms to better reflect Nigeria’s youthful population. He noted that despite forming a majority, young people remain largely excluded from key decision-making processes.
Eze emphasised the need for deliberate efforts to develop youth leadership, pointing out that unlike corporate institutions, Nigeria’s political system has yet to establish clear pathways for succession and inclusion.
Participants at the roundtable expressed varying concerns over youth participation in politics. While some highlighted the gap between the country’s youthful population and their representation in governance, others pointed to persistent challenges such as high political costs and limited access to party structures.
Concerns were also raised about declining public trust in the electoral process, with calls for institutional reforms to restore confidence and strengthen democratic outcomes ahead of the 2027 elections.