•••Leaders, Youth Groups, Influencers Pledge Mobilisation ahead of 2026 local government and 2027 general elections
… Wards Gets Empowerment
Not less than 500 youths from Ibadan North-West Local Government Area of Oyo State on Thursday has displayed through rally and endorsement, their support for all candidates of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) during 2026 Youth Summit of the party’s youth wing, held at the Ibadan North-West Local Government Secretariat, Onireke, Ibadan.
Earlier a solidarity walk was held from Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba to Onireke, the venue of The summit, with the theme, “The Impact of Youth in the Coming General Election 2027,” with participants drawn from APM youth structures, youth organisations, community groups and other non-partisan youth formations across the local government. The gathering also featured lectures, goodwill messages and mobilisation activities ahead of the forthcoming elections.
In his keynote address, the APM Chairman in Ibadan North-West Local Government, Hon. Kazeem Fantola, urged youths to move beyond attending political rallies and become active participants in the democratic process. He called on them to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, educate themselves and others on the electoral process, mobilise their communities and ensure that their votes count.
Fantola said youths possessed the numbers, energy, creativity and communication skills required to strengthen grassroots political participation, urging them to take responsibility for shaping the leadership and direction of their communities, Oyo State and Nigeria. He also admonished them to reject violence, intimidation, misinformation and electoral malpractice, stressing that political campaigns should be based on issues, programmes, achievements and the capacity of candidates.
The chairman called on the youth wing to work collectively for the candidates endorsed by the party, including Engr. Seyi Makinde for President, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi for Governor of Oyo State, Hon. Dhikrullah Olajide Odidi-Omo for Oyo South Senatorial District, Dr. Akin Fagbemi for the House of Representatives, Hon. Olayinka Gbolahan Ibikunle for the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. AbdulGaniy Omotosho for Chairman of Ibadan North-West Local Government and the 11 councillorship candidates.
Also speaking, the APM Youth Leader in Ibadan North-West, Hon. Saheed Adeleke, said the summit was deliberately organised to draw attention to the role of youths in the 2027 elections.
Adeleke identified four areas through which youths could make an impact: their PVCs, peaceful use of their voices, active participation and unity. He urged young people to reject political violence and refuse to be used as instruments of electoral conflict, stressing the need for youths to participate as voters, candidates, volunteers and election observers.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of Ibadan North-West Local Government and Coordinator of the Presidential/Governorship Campaign Council in the local government, Alhaji Rahman Adepoju, urged the youths to remain steadfast in their commitment to the party and maintain peace throughout the electoral period.
Adepoju highlighted what he described as achievements of his administration, including empowerment programmes for youths, women, market traders and artisans, installation of streetlights across wards, provision of boreholes, construction of bridges and scholarship support for students undertaking WAEC, NECO, NCE and technical college programmes. He also commended the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
The council chairman urged the youths to go out to vote and remain at their polling units to monitor the process through the collation of results, while stressing that the current political period should be characterised by peace rather than confrontation.
The APM candidate for Ibadan North-West State Constituency, Hon. Olayinka Gbolahan Ibikunle, who was represented by Dr. Tayo Adegunju, commended the youths for organising the summit and donated ₦1 million towards the programme. The Oyo South Senatorial candidate, Hon. Dhikrullah Olajide Odidi-Omo, was represented by Hon. Teslim Okunade, while the APM House of Representatives candidate was also represented by members of his campaign group.
The summit featured two lectures. Hon. Jimoh Gbolagade, a teacher, delivered a lecture on the theoretical impact of youths on elections, while Hon. Abayomi Fagbenro Bibire, Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security and a political leader in the Ibadan North-West/South-West Federal Constituency, addressed the practical responsibilities of youths in the forthcoming local government and general elections.
Bibire also urged the youths to shun electoral violence, verify information before sharing it, and report credible security threats as the state prepares for its December local government election and the 2027 general elections. He described the forthcoming local government election as a valuable opportunity for youths across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State to demonstrate responsible political participation as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections. Hence, he donated ₦500,000.
The event attracted several political and community leaders, including Rt. Hon. Nelson Gbadamosi; Leader of the House, Hon. Sarah Sobowale; Secretary of the local government, Hon. Dauda Oladele; Vice-Chairmanship Candidate, Hon. Akindipe Hammed Akinsunbo; Director-General, Youth Mobilisation, Makinde/Adekanmbi Campaign Council, Hon. Sikiru Adetona; APM Ibadan North-West Secretary; Member of the Oyo State Youth Parliament 3rd Assembly representing Ibadan North-West State Constituency, Otunba Segun Adebanjo; and Hon. Michael Ogunsina, PRO of the PDP-APM Alliance in Oyo State, among others.
Also present were members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria in Ibadan North-West, the Smart Boys Movement (SBM) led by Comrade Mujeeb Praise, youth influencers, ward chairmen and youth leaders from Ibadan North-West, as well as youth leaders from Ibadan North and Ibadan South-West local governments.
At the end of the summit, the participating youths formally declared their support for all APM candidates and pledged to mobilise across the local government for the party’s candidates in the forthcoming elections.
The Youth wing empowered all wards with ₦190,000.
The organisers, through the youth secretary, expressed appreciation to Alhaji Rahman Olanrewaju Adepoju, Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke, Alhaji Lukman Adesina, Hon. Kazeem Fantola, Alhaji AbdulGaniy Omotosho, Dr. Akin Fagbemi, Hon. Sarah Sobowale, Alhaji Wasiu Olatubosun, Otunba Segun Adebanjo, Hon. Dauda Oladele, Hon. Gbolahan Olayinka Ibikunle, Hon. Abayomi Fagbenro Bibire, Hon. Innocent Tallest, and others for their contributions towards the successful hosting of the summit.
