Abuja: Calls for lowering voter age and rejecting e-voting on Wednesday in Abuja dominated the maiden edition of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS)-Democracy Radio secondary school debate. Students from Africa Community School, Asokoro, and Intelligence Quotient Academy, who emerged winners, made the call at the debate, organised to mark Nigeria’s 26th anniversary of unbroken democracy.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the topic of the debate was ‘Is E-Voting the Future of Nigeria’s Democracy/Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16 years.’ Miss Khadijah Matawale, a student of Intelligence Quotient Academy, emphasized that every citizen had the right to life, freedom of speech, and movement, and should be given the right to vote. She described voting as a process of electing leaders in a democratic setting by citizens, arguing that teenagers at the age of 16 are equally citizens. Matawale contended that if older citizens have the right mindset to vote and influence government actions, then 16-year-olds should also be allowed to vote.

Miss Oluwadamilola Wright of Africa Community School argued that while technology seemed promising, there were significant constraints. Wright noted that transparency could not be assured since system operators were appointed by those in power, raising doubts about whether the results truly reflected the people’s will. She also pointed out the high costs associated with acquiring and operating electronic systems.

Master Ogbodo Kelvin from Government Secondary School, Area 10, Garki, contributed by asserting that e-voting was the future of Nigeria’s electoral system and globally. Kelvin highlighted that with technological advancement, e-voting would ensure empowerment, transparency, and a reduction in electoral fraud, while also being more environmentally conscious by reducing paper usage.

Conversely, Miss Oluwapamilerinayo Abobarin, an SS II student of Treasure Homes International Schools, argued that voting should be reserved for adult citizens. She cited scientific evidence indicating that the decision-making parts of the brain are not fully developed until the mid-twenties, suggesting that 16-year-olds lack the maturity to make such significant decisions for the nation. Abobarin expressed concerns about younger voters being easily influenced and manipulated, potentially leading to unintended consequences in leadership.

In an interview with NAN, Mrs Uju Nwachukwu, the General-Manager of NILDS-Democracy Radio, explained that the initiative aimed to engage young people on topics of interest to them. Nwachukwu noted that following social media comments from young people after the 2023 elections, the debate was designed to stimulate new thinking among the youth. She emphasized the importance of awareness on governance and politics for younger individuals, aiming to bridge the information gap between the governed and the government.

Nwachukwu remarked that the debate sought to intellectually engage the younger generation, encouraging them to research and understand political dynamics. She expressed plans to expand the debate to include university students, fostering a broader engagement with Nigeria’s political future.