Two of the gladiators in Saturday's Presidential election, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).Alhaji Atiku Abubakar slugging it out with President Muhammadu Buhari

Segun Atanda/

As Nigerians prepare to elect a President and National Assembly representatives on February 23, it appears the power is in the hands of the youths between 18 and 35 years of age in a nation of over 190 million people.

According to information that NewsmakersNG received from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), this age group has 42, 938, 458 registered voters, which is 51.11 per cent of registered voters.

Durotoye, Prof Moghalu and Sowore
Fela Durotoye, Prof Kingsley Moghalu and Omoyele Sowore

Their strength, which shows that Youth is more than half the battle, is followed by that of the Middle-Age people between 36 and 50 years. That group has 25, 176, 144 registered voters, standing at 29.97 per cent of registered voters.

Then, we have the elderly of between 51 to 70 years with 12, 788, 511 registered voters, making 15.22 per cent and the Old who are 70 and above with a strength of 3, 100, 971.

NewsmakersNG also learnt from INEC that 80,004,084 persons are on the register; 39,598,645 are female – 47.14 per cent; 44, 405, 439 are male which is 52.86 per cent of the total figure.

When it was broken down to occupational distribution, students hold the ace with 22,320,990 registered voters and the closest figure to it is about half that number.

In the second position are farmers and fishermen who have 13, 630, 216, which is 16.23 per cent.

Housewives are in third position with 11,844,079 registered voters that is 14.10 per cent.

Here is the table at a glance:

Occupation distribution

       
SN Occupation Reg Voters % Of Reg Voters
1 Artisan 4,478,202 5.33
2 Business 10,810,006 12.87
3 Civil Servant 5,038,671 6
4 Farming/Fishing 13,630,216 16.23
5 House wife 11,844,079 14.10
6 Others 6,021,741 7.17
7 Public Servant 2,292,167 2.73
8 Student 22,320,990 26.57
9 Trading   7,568,012 9.01
    84,004,084 100

Age Distribution

SN Age Group Registered Voters % of Reg Voters
1 Youth 18-35 42,938,458 51.11
2 Middle Aged 36-50 25,176,144 29.97
3 Elderly 51-70 12,788,511 15.22
4 Old 70+ 3,100,971 3,100,971
       

INEC listed the Zonal distribution of registered voters thus: South-South – 12,841,279; North Central – 13,366,007; South East – 10, 057, 130; South-West – 16,292,212; North-West – 20,158,100, and North-East – 11,289,293.

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By Dipo

Dipo Kehinde is an accomplished Nigerian journalist, artist, and designer with over 34 years experience. More info on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dipo-kehinde-8aa98926

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