Young voters at a polling unit during an election in Nigeria. CJAN is urging youths in Osun State to move beyond being treated as electoral numbers and demand greater participation in governance.
The Corpers’ Journey Advocacy Network (CJAN) has urged young voters in Osun state to look beyond party loyalty, campaign promises and temporary inducements as they prepare to vote in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The youth-focused advocacy organisation challenged young people to scrutinise candidates based on competence, character, track record and policy proposals, insisting that youths must stop being treated merely as electoral numbers and become active stakeholders in governance.
The Managing Director of CJAN, Taiwo Ajayi Adeola, made the call in a statement on Monday, stressing that the organisation was not endorsing any candidate or political party but advocating for informed, responsible and issue-based voting.
According to Ajayi, the election presents young voters with an opportunity to demand clear and measurable commitments from candidates on issues that directly affect their future, including employment, education, skills development, entrepreneurship, digital opportunities, healthcare, security, housing, sports, the creative economy and youth representation.
“Young people should not only be mobilised to attend rallies and vote on election day. They must ask candidates what they intend to do about employment, education, skills development, entrepreneurship, digital opportunities, healthcare, security, housing, sports, the creative economy and youth representation in government,” he said.
From electoral numbers to governance partners
CJAN said the influence of young voters should extend beyond election day, arguing that their numerical strength must translate into greater representation, accountability and attention to youth priorities.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2,339,233 registered voters are listed for the Osun governorship election, highlighting the significant electoral weight of voters in the state.
Ajayi said a genuinely youth-friendly government should not be measured by campaign slogans or short-term empowerment schemes, but by the systems it establishes to help young people build sustainable livelihoods.
He urged youths to demand specifics from candidates rather than settle for broad promises.
“The question should not only be what a candidate promises. Young people should ask: How many people will benefit? When will implementation begin? What will it cost? How will we measure the result, and who will be accountable if the promise is not delivered?”
CJAN puts candidates under youth-focused lens
The August 15 election is being contested by 14 candidates, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and ADC candidate Najeem Salaam.
CJAN urged young voters to compare the candidates’ programmes, policy positions and records instead of voting solely along party lines.
The organisation said particular attention should be paid to candidates’ plans for employment, education, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, technology, sports, creative industries, healthcare, security and youth participation in decision-making.
Four priorities for youth-centred governance
CJAN said its position reflects its broader work in youth advocacy, capacity building and training, access to information and resources, and recognition and storytelling.
Ajayi said these areas provide a framework for determining whether government policies genuinely serve young people.
He called for stronger youth representation in policy development and decision-making, sustainable pathways linking education and skills to employment and entrepreneurship, and improved access to reliable information about government programmes and opportunities.
The organisation also called for greater recognition and protection of young Nigerians contributing to national development, including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
CJAN demands better protection for corps members
CJAN renewed its call for adequate security and welfare for corps members deployed for election duties.
The organisation urged relevant authorities to provide adequate transportation, accommodation, allowances, medical support and other necessary welfare provisions for corps members participating in the electoral process.
It also called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to respect the neutrality of corps members and refrain from intimidation, harassment, inducement or any attempt to compromise their duties.
“Corps members are young Nigerians carrying out a national assignment. They should not be exposed to unnecessary risks because of political competition,” Ajayi said.
Building on election advocacy
CJAN said its intervention in Osun builds on previous election-related advocacy, including its work around the 2025 Anambra governorship election and the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, where it focused on youth participation, peaceful elections, corps members’ welfare and issue-based voting.
The organisation maintained that young people must no longer be reduced to campaign crowds, social media foot soldiers or electoral mobilisation tools.
Instead, they should be recognised as stakeholders whose priorities, ideas and demands must shape public policy.
‘Do not sell four years for a momentary benefit’
CJAN urged young voters to reject electoral violence, vote buying, misinformation and intimidation, and instead assess candidates on competence, character, track record and policy proposals.
“CJAN is not asking young people to vote for a particular candidate. We are asking them to understand what they are voting for,” Ajayi said.
He urged voters to study the candidates, compare their programmes and make decisions based on the future they want for themselves and for Osun State.
“Do not sell four years for a momentary benefit. Do not allow yourself to be used for electoral violence. Do not vote blindly because of party loyalty. Your vote is your voice, and your choice has consequences,” he added.
CJAN also called on whoever emerges as governor to treat young people as partners in governance, with measurable youth-focused programmes and clear mechanisms for public accountability.
The organisation said its ultimate objective was to ensure that young people move from being treated as electoral numbers to becoming active participants at the centre of governance.
It urged Osun voters to “vote peacefully, vote wisely, vote for competence and vote for accountability.”
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