A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF YOUTH POLITICAL DISENGAGEMENT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIOPOLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA

Political apathy among youths has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges confronting Nigeria’s democratic stability and socio-political development in Southern Nigeria. Despite constituting over 60% of Nigeria’s population, youth participation in formal political structures remains disproportionately low, manifested in limited voter turnout, weak party engagement, negligible representation in elective offices, and a high level of institutional distrust. Structural constraints continue to marginalise young Nigerians and deter them from engaging in mainstream political activities. Cultural norms reinforcing elder authority further diminish youth agency linked to low political efficacy and a deep cynicism toward political institutions. However, youth political disengagement is not uniformly passive. Evidence from the #EndSARS movement in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu demonstrates that Southern Nigerian youths possess significant political consciousness and mobilisation capacity, especially within digital and informal spaces. In the South-South, social media activism and issue-based mobilisation increasingly substitute for formal participation, while in the South-West, digital political behaviour is reshaping civic engagement patterns. This indicates a structural shift rather than a decline in political interest. Drawing on political participation theory, youth bulge theory, and structural exclusion theory, this paper argues that youth apathy reflects a rational response to systemic exclusion rather than a lack of political will. The paper analyses the sociological causes, manifestations, and regional dynamics of youth political apathy and assesses its consequences in Southern Nigeria. The study concludes by proposing structural, educational, and digital reforms aimed at reintegrating youths into governance processes and strengthening democratic consolidation in the region.