Young enough to vote, but still facing barriers to power

Young people are highly visible in West African election campaigns and protest movements, yet visibility does not necessarily translate into seats at the table. A regional analysis by Jean Sovon examines the gap between being allowed to choose political leaders and having a realistic opportunity to become one. Its central argument is that age rules explain only part of the problem.

Nigeria provides a useful example. The Not Too Young To Run reforms of 2018 lowered the minimum presidential age from 40 to 35 and the threshold for the House of Representatives from 30 to 25. Those changes expanded legal eligibility. They did not, on their own, remove the practical obstacles between an eligible applicant and a successful candidacy.

The analysis points to campaign financing, nomination costs and control inside political parties as further barriers. A younger person may meet the age requirement but still lack the money, networks or institutional backing needed to secure a ticket. That distinction matters when a reform is described as opening politics: eligibility and access are related, but they are not identical.

Protest participation adds another layer. Young organisers can mobilise people, communicate demands and press authorities to respond without holding formal office. Yet the energy of a campaign is difficult to convert into durable representation unless there are ways to keep organising after the immediate confrontation ends. A concession won in the street is different from lasting influence over budgets or legislation.

The policy options discussed include lower entry costs, support for younger candidates and arrangements that give them a stronger place in party selection. Each raises implementation questions. Who qualifies for support? Does it reach people without powerful sponsors? Are younger candidates competing for viable seats? Counting candidates is useful, but it does not reveal whether they can actually win and exercise authority.

For Nigerian readers, the broader test is whether political participation comes with a route to decision-making. Lowering an age threshold can be an important beginning. Assessing the results also requires looking at nomination practices, the resources available to candidates and the work of those who get elected. The article presents a debate about representation, not a forecast of an election result.