In what appears to be Nigeria’s most dramatic “return on investment” complaint yet, a man on Thursday stormed the All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat in Abuja with a message as blunt as it was unsettling: reward me or kill me. The protest, captured in a now-viral video, shows the visibly distressed man holding a placard and demanding recognition for what he described as his personal sacrifices during the party’s 2023 campaign. According to him, loyalty was not just emotional, it was financial, physical, and, ultimately, total. In a country where political support often comes with expectations, some spoken, many implied the man’s outcry reads like a tragic audit of misplaced trust. His claim that he sold his house to fund campaign efforts has not been independently verified, but the symbolism is hard to ignore: a citizen liquidating stability in exchange for promised political dividends. Observers at the scene watched as the protester oscillated between anger and ...
"For too long, the political system has sidelined young Nigerians. These reforms can create real pathways for the next generation of leaders to lead, innovate, and transform governance."
In recent election cycles, it has become clear that young elites in Nigeria are increasingly sidelined from politics. High nomination fees, exposure to political violence, and opaque party structures have made active participation risky and frustrating. Even opposition and third-force parties, the so-called alternatives are not engineered by young Nigerians, demonstrating that the youth remain the last option in governance.
Meanwhile, market women and other non-traditional actors often dominate the political scene, leaving talented, educated young Nigerians with little real influence.
To reverse this trend, it is crucial to introduce legislation that levels the playing field, protects candidates, and creates genuine pathways for youth leadership.
Below are 10 bills that can empower young elites to reclaim their place in Nigeria’s corridors of power.
1. Political Campaign Finance Regulation Bill
Caps nomination fees and campaign expenses to remove financial barriers for young aspirants.
2. Youth Inclusion and Representation Bill
Mandates a minimum percentage of political appointments and party tickets for citizens under 40.
3. Electoral Security and Protection Bill
Establishes a robust framework to protect candidates and voters from violence, thuggery, and intimidation.
4. Independent Candidacy Strengthening Bill
Fully legalizes and operationalizes independent candidacy, allowing credible individuals to contest without party control.
5. Political Party Internal Democracy Reform Bill
Ensures transparent primaries, digital voting, and equal access within all political parties.
6. Youth Political Participation Fund Bill
Provides regulated financial support to young candidates through grants or low-interest loans.
7. Electoral Offences and Accountability Bill
Strengthens punishment for vote buying, election manipulation, and political violence, making politics safer and more credible.
Digital Voting and
8. Electoral Transparency Bill
Introduces secure electronic voting and real-time result transmission to reduce manipulation.
9. Political Mentorship and Leadership Development Bill
Institutionalizes internships, legislative fellowships, and structured mentorship programs for aspiring leaders.
10. Recall and Performance Accountability Reform Bill
Simplifies the process of removing underperforming leaders and introduces digital performance tracking dashboards for elected officials.
Final thought
Until these reforms are enacted, Nigeria risks losing another generation of capable leaders to apathy, pseudo-activism, and content creation, leaving governance to those willing to play by the old rules. The time has come to give young elites not just a voice, but a clear pathway to lead, govern, and transform the nation.
Abioye Tosin Lawrence, Publisher of Oriontimes Online Newspaper.
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