Not too young to run act, youth participation and party nomination forms in Nigeria (2015–2023)

Abstract

This study examines the political engagement of Nigerian youths from 2015 to 2023, focusing on the Not Too Young to Run Act, the activities of political parties, and the constraining factors of the nomination forms. Regardless of the passage of the Not Too Young to Run legislation in 2018, which constitutionally capped the age limit of candidacy for elections, there was still disproportionate youth participation in Nigerian politics. This study analyses the crucial impact of social movements and digital activism on civic participation exemplified by the campaigns #NotTooYoungToRun and #EndSARS. Theoretically, this study adopted three theories: political participation theory, social movement theory and elite theory as a theoretical foundation. The methodology was qualitative and relied on secondary sources of data which were thematically analysed. The study adopts three theories: political participation theory, social movement theory and elite theory as a theoretical foundation. This study discovered that the systematic political and socio-economic structures are some of the limiting factors that stifled youthful political participation in Nigeria, especially between 2015 and 2023. The study discovered that the systematic political and socio-economic structures are some of the limiting factors that stifled youthful political participation in Nigeria, especially between 2015 and 2023. Prominent among them is the exorbitant political party nomination form. This finding highlights how the financial barriers imposed by political parties can effectively exclude young people from the political process, thereby limiting their ability to engage in governance. Such practices not only hinder youth participation but also perpetuate a cycle of political disengagement and inequality. The conclusion of the work has focused on policy recommendations designed to elevate participation through empowering policies and reforms, internal intra-party democracy, economic participation, and technology. This inclusion is vital for fostering a more representative and responsive governance system that addresses the unique needs and aspirations of the younger generation.