Less than two weeks to the Ekiti State governorship election, youth organisations, student bodies and ethnic associations in Ikole Local Government Area have thrown their weight behind Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re election bid, declaring their readiness to mobilise voters across the council area with a target of delivering between 80 and 90 per cent of the total votes cast.
The declaration was made at a strategic political engagement involving youth leaders from the 25 communities that make up Ikole Local Government. The meeting, which was sponsored by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akintunde Oyebode, was designed to assess the level of youth participation in the electoral process, evaluate the collection of Permanent Voter Cards and strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the June 20 poll.
Beyond the endorsement, the gathering reflected a growing effort by the ruling All Progressives Congress to consolidate support among first time voters and young people who constitute a significant percentage of the electorate. Participants resolved to embark on extensive voter education and door to door mobilisation campaigns across communities, wards, polling units and remote farm settlements to ensure a high turnout on election day.
The mobilisation exercise was coordinated by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Service Delivery, Mr Toba Fatunla, and the Special Assistant on Sports Development, Mr Kola Owoseni. The event attracted an unusually broad coalition of youth stakeholders, including student leaders, youth parliamentarians, political groups, ethnic associations, transport unions and sports development groups, all united by a common commitment to support the governor’s second term aspiration.
Among those present were the APC Youth Leadership in Ikole Local Government, representatives of the twelve wards in the council area, the President of the Federation of Ekiti State Students’ Union, Comrade Bamgboye Olarewaju, the President of the Federation of Ikole Local Government Students’ Union, Comrade Sunkanmi, leaders of the Ikole 25 Communities Youth Coalition, members of the Ekiti Youth Parliament, as well as representatives of Igbo, Ebira and commercial motorcycle riders’ associations operating within the local government.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Fatunla outlined what he described as the visible developmental footprints of the Oyebanji administration in Ikole Local Government and neighbouring communities. He cited major road projects including the Ikole Ara Isinbode Road, the Isaba Ikoyi Ile Igbemo Road and the ongoing Ayedun Ipao Oke Ako Road project. He also highlighted the facilitation of federal presence through healthcare initiatives, the upgrading and equipping of health centres in Ijesa Isu and Ipao Ekiti, free healthcare services at primary healthcare centres, rehabilitation of educational facilities, perimeter fencing of schools, provision of learning infrastructure and the government’s free WAEC registration programme.
According to him, the administration’s interventions have gone beyond physical infrastructure to include investments in human capital development, youth empowerment, sports development and social welfare programmes. He argued that continuity would enable the state to consolidate ongoing projects and sustain the developmental momentum already established under the current administration.
In separate solidarity messages delivered in different indigenous languages, leaders of the various groups commended Governor Oyebanji for what they described as his responsive and inclusive approach to governance. They also praised the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Oyebode, for maintaining a close relationship with the grassroots and facilitating programmes that have positively impacted communities across the local government.
The youth leaders noted that the appointment of Mr Oyebode into the state cabinet had strengthened the voice of Ikole people in government and enhanced opportunities for community development. They credited his collaboration with the governor for several interventions in education, sports development, youth engagement and economic empowerment within the local government.
One after another, speakers pledged that the endorsement would go beyond rhetoric, insisting that they were prepared to convert their support into votes. They expressed confidence that the extensive network of youth organisations across the 25 communities would serve as a strong mobilisation platform capable of reaching thousands of voters before election day.
The coalition subsequently adopted a resolution committing all member organisations to intensive grassroots campaigns, voter sensitisation and mobilisation activities throughout the remaining days before the election. They also appealed to the governor to sustain his youth friendly policies and create additional opportunities for young people through appointments, entrepreneurship programmes and skills development initiatives if re elected.
As the count down begins, the endorsement is significant, given Ikole Local Government’s status as one of the largest voting blocs in Ekiti State. With youth participation expected to play a decisive role in the June 20 governorship election, the emerging coalition may further strengthen Governor Oyebanji’s support base in a local government widely regarded as critical to determining the overall outcome of the contest.