The underrepresentation of youth, especially young women, in African parliaments poses a serious challenge to representative democracy given the continent’s predominantly young demographic. This study examines the intersectional effects of age and gender on electoral and party support in Nigeria's 2019 parliamentary elections. Using survey data of 360 candidates across 120 constituencies, I find that youth and female candidates face substantial electoral disadvantages. Young women encounter the most barriers, receiving significantly less electoral and party support compared to other demographic groups. Utilizing the same survey data coupled with data from the Electoral Commission of Nigeria, my analysis also uncovers evidence supporting the "sacrificial lamb" hypothesis: political parties tend to nominate young candidates, particularly young women, in less winnable "battleground" constituencies rather than party strongholds, further diminishing their electoral prospects. By highlighting the compounded challenges young women face in politics, this study contributes to our scholarly understanding of the underrepresentation of youth and women in African legislatures. These findings have important implications for efforts to enhance and strengthen democratic representation in Nigeria and across the African continent.
