Youth Political Participation and Political Power in Nigeria: A Documentary Analysis

Abstract

Youth constitute a significant demographic constituency in Nigeria, yet their political and civic participation does not necessarily translate into proportional legislative representation or influence over public decisions. Although the 2018 Not Too Young To Run reform lowered age requirements for specified elective offices, party nomination procedures, campaign costs, political networks and socioeconomic inequalities may continue to constrain inclusion. This study examines the relationship between youth political participation and political power in Nigeria, distinguishing participation, formal representation and political influence. It adopts a qualitative documentary research design, analysing 25 documents comprising scholarly publications, electoral reports, policy documents and legislation published between 1999 and 2023, alongside earlier works providing theoretical and historical context. The analysis is guided by the Civic Voluntarism Model, particularly its emphasis on resources, political engagement and recruitment networks, while considering structural barriers, party gatekeeping and political opportunity structures. Qualitative content analysis examines documented participation patterns, access to political institutions and the relationship between participation, representation and influence. The proposed Youth Political Participation Paradox, describing the possible coexistence of substantial youth engagement and limited representation, is treated as an analytical proposition rather than an established national pattern. The study concludes that legal eligibility and civic engagement alone do not guarantee substantive political inclusion. It provides a framework for analysing participation, representation and political influence as distinct but interconnected dimensions of youth inclusion in Nigeria.