Youths in the South-East have warned political authorities, electoral officials and security agencies against actions capable of shutting them out of the 2027 general elections, demanding a level playing field for all candidates and political parties.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), South-East Zone, raised the alarm over what it described as alleged financial and administrative barriers capable of restricting political participation, particularly for young aspirants and opposition candidates.
The Vice President of the council in the South-East, Comr. Dr. Henry Ifeanyi Atigwe, made the position known in a press briefing issued on Monday, August 31, 2026, warning that the 2027 elections must not become a contest reserved for only politicians with enormous financial resources.
Atigwe expressed particular concern over reports of allegedly exorbitant charges imposed in some South-East states on political aspirants and candidates seeking to advertise through billboards, posters and other outdoor media.
According to him, reports of charges running into tens or hundreds of millions of naira, with figures reportedly reaching as high as ₦150 million for billboard placement in some instances, were capable of undermining political participation.
“If candidates are required to pay such extraordinary sums before they can erect campaign billboards or freely display their campaign materials, then the democratic process risks becoming an exclusive preserve of the financially powerful,” Atigwe said.
He said the situation was particularly troubling for young Nigerians who may possess the competence, vision and capacity to contest elections but lack the financial muscle required to meet such demands.
“Democracy must not become a system where only the wealthiest candidates can make themselves visible to the electorate,” he said.
The NYCN South-East therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Federal Government and relevant regulatory and law-enforcement agencies to investigate the allegations and ensure that administrative charges, regulations or policies were not used to suppress legitimate political participation.
‘Don’t Use Public Facilities to Victimise Opposition’
The council also condemned alleged political intimidation, harassment, obstruction and attacks against opposition parties, candidates, supporters and campaign structures.
Atigwe particularly faulted any practice that allegedly prevents opposition parties from using public schools, government premises and other public facilities for legitimate political gatherings while ruling parties are allowed access to such facilities.
“Public property belongs to the people and must be administered fairly and transparently. Government facilities must not become instruments for political victimisation or witch-hunting,” he said.
He consequently called on the Federal Government, security and law-enforcement agencies, state authorities and INEC to guarantee equal treatment for all political parties and candidates, irrespective of whether they belong to the ruling party or opposition.
“The 2027 elections must be an election in which every candidate is free to campaign peacefully, engage with voters, display campaign materials in accordance with the law and present his or her programme to the people without intimidation or unlawful obstruction,” Atigwe said.
NYCN Challenges INEC
The South-East youth council also challenged INEC to strengthen its monitoring mechanisms ahead of the elections and take action against individuals or groups found violating electoral guidelines or deliberately preventing candidates from campaigning.
Atigwe warned that electoral violations should not be ignored until election day.
“INEC must not wait until election day before addressing violations that could affect the credibility of the electoral process. The electoral environment leading to the election is just as important as the election itself,” he said.
The council further urged INEC to develop and publish an accessible and regularly updated database containing the names, photographs, political parties and other relevant information of all duly nominated candidates contesting elections across the South-East.
Atigwe said the initiative would help voters identify candidates and reduce the disadvantage faced by politicians who could not afford extensive billboard and outdoor advertising.
He acknowledged that governments have the responsibility to regulate outdoor advertising but insisted that such regulation must not become a tool for political exclusion.
“However, regulation must be reasonable, transparent, non-discriminatory and applicable equally to all political parties and candidates,” he said.
“No government should create conditions that effectively make it impossible for opposition candidates or independent political actors to communicate with the electorate.”
The council consequently appealed to the governors and relevant authorities in the five South-East states to review what it described as excessive charges on political campaign advertisements and ensure that the cost of political participation did not become a barrier to credible candidates, particularly youths.
‘Our PVCs Are Instruments of Power’
Beyond campaign conditions, the NYCN urged young people across the South-East to take ownership of the 2027 electoral process by registering, collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), studying candidates and their programmes and voting based on competence and conscience.
“Our PVCs are not merely pieces of identification; they are instruments through which we can determine the leadership we desire,” Atigwe said.
He urged young voters to reject inducement, intimidation and sentiment while scrutinising the records of political leaders and their ability to deliver development, economic opportunities, security, education and employment.
“We must say NO to leaders who have failed to deliver meaningful development, economic opportunities, security, quality education, employment and a better future for our people,” he said.
Atigwe, however, cautioned youths against responding to political tensions with violence, urging them to defend their votes through lawful and constitutional means.
“Defending democracy does not mean resorting to violence. We must defend our votes through lawful, constitutional and democratic means by remaining vigilant, documenting irregularities and using the appropriate institutions and legal channels to challenge electoral violations,” he said.
He said the NYCN South-East was determined to promote meaningful youth participation, democratic inclusion and peaceful political engagement throughout the electoral process.
“The 2027 General Elections must be an election where every Nigerian—young or old, rich or poor, ruling party or opposition—has an equal opportunity to participate,” Atigwe said.
“The youths of the South East are watching. We are ready to participate. We are ready to vote. We are ready to defend democracy through lawful means.”
Atigwe insisted that the 2027 elections should be determined by ideas, competence, character and service rather than financial strength, intimidation or political suppression.
“Let the 2027 elections be about ideas, competence, character and service—not intimidation, financial strength or political suppression,” he said.
He ended with a direct appeal to electoral authorities, governments, security agencies, political parties and other stakeholders:
“Let there be a level playing field. Let every candidate be heard. Let every voter be free. Let every vote count.”
