The Africana League has announced a fresh phase of its Nigeria House of Commons political reality TV show, with stronger participation from youths and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
The programme first debuted on YouTube in July with a short pilot run. At a press briefing on Thursday, organisers said the new phase will feature more inclusive casting and a sharper focus on youth and PWD representation in politics and policy-making.
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According to the League’s founder and executive director, Glory Ukwenga, the revamped show will allow contestants to simulate parliamentary debates, propose motions and showcase ideas that reflect Nigeria’s diversity.
The executive director said the show will enable Nigerian youths to simulate a parliamentary debate on Nigeria’s keenly contested policy issues.
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Citing the underrepresentation of youth and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigerian governance and politics, Ms Ukwenga said the show would serve as a starting point for the inclusion of youth and PWDs in policymaking and nation-building.
“But here in this show, young leaders representing the states of our federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, take the stage to propose motions, debate ideas, challenge themselves, and inspire other youths by these means.
“The TV show is a simulation of Nigeria where voices are not silenced by age, wealth, or connections, but elevated by the power of ideas.
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“The show is inclusive of young women and men alike. It opens its doors to persons with disabilities whose brilliance and courage have for too long been excluded from the national conversation,” the Africana League founder said.
Youth inclusion
Speaking on how the show aims to promote the inclusion of youth and PWDs in politics, the Africana League director said, “We want you to see yourselves in these debates, to feel your state’s pride, to argue along, to cheer for the champions, to spread the word, and to give them your support and votes when they emerge as contenders on this stage of national politics.
“Because when 100 million Nigerians watch, when 5 million Nigerians support, and when each contestant gains an active fan base, something profound happens. We prove that we, as a people, are ready for change.
“This show, ‘The Nigeria House of Commons’, is our chance to write a new story of youth in governance together, and this is only season one.
“With your support, it can grow into Africa’s biggest civic engagement platform, a training ground for future governors, lawmakers, ministers, and even presidents. Let us not underestimate what we are building,” she explained.
Not Too Young to Run
The executive director also highlighted the poor implementation of the ‘Not Too Young to Run’ bill, noting that young people, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) remain underrepresented in the National Assembly despite its enactment.
No officially recognised youth serves in the Nigerian Senate, and youth representation in the House of Representatives is only 3.9 per cent.
“Despite the signing of the Not Too Young to Run Bill in 2018, progress has been marginal, and the need for inclusivity in leadership remains urgent.
“This initiative simulates legislative processes, allowing youths to imagine themselves as lawmakers, learn governance practically, and understand political ideologies.
“Through debates, role-playing, and party divisions like the UDP (Unity, Diversity Party) and UUP (Unity by Informative Party), contestants explore how ideology should drive politics,” she said.
Genuine representation
Additionally, Mary Victor, a legal and human resources practitioner and humanitarian who represented the disability community on the Nigeria House of Commons TV show, reiterated the show’s mission, stating that laws and policies are not implemented in the interests of PWDs.
Ma Victor stressed the importance of genuine representation for persons with disabilities (PWDs), noting that anything less amounts to tokenism.
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She explained, ”The law gave institutions five years to adjust and include persons with disabilities, but little has been done since it passed in January 2024.
“Most institutions remain inaccessible, even the Aso Rock. The 5 per cent employment quota is rarely met, and PWDs are not adequately engaged when it is. Anything short of genuine inclusion is tokenism.
The humanitarian further explained that disability is a matter of human rights, not charity. She criticised token gestures like food donations on special days, stressing the need for systemic accessibility and meaningful engagement of PWDs in governance and employment.
“Disability is not a charity case but a matter of human rights. We must move beyond superficial gestures and make systems accessible. Without true implementation, Nigeria keeps losing, just as a U.S. report showed the world loses $6.3 trillion yearly from excluding PWDs.”
She, however, urged Nigeria to collect accurate disability data and act proactively, rather than waiting for punitive measures to enforce the law.
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