EUYI Urges INEC To Ensure Voting Rights For Military, NYSC Members, And Inmates

The Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take concrete steps toward ensuring that all eligible citizens, including military personnel, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, and prison inmates, are granted their voting rights.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, EUYI’s Convener, Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince, and Co-Convener, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, decried the continued disenfranchisement of these groups, despite their contributions to national service and a 2014 court ruling affirming inmates’ voting rights.

The rights group emphasized that electoral inclusivity is key to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. They urged INEC to collaborate with civil society organizations to conduct special voter registration exercises, ensuring no eligible Nigerian is excluded from the democratic process.

EUYI reiterated that full participation in elections would enhance governance, fairness, and justice, calling on policymakers to implement reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.