The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has inaugurated its Kwara Central Youth Stakeholders, with party leaders charging the new executives and other young members to mobilise voters, promote issue-based politics and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The inauguration and public lecture, organised by the office of the Kwara State PDP Youth Leader, took place on Tuesday at the ABS mandate Hall, Olorunsogo in Ilorin.
Speaking during the event, the State PDP Youth Leader, Comrade Olando Adio Odunjo Friday, described the gathering as more than a political event, stressing that the initiative represented a strategic convergence of young leaders and party faithfuls committed to shaping the future of the state.
He said the outcome of future elections would go beyond determining who occupies public offices, as it would also influence the direction of the state for years to come.
Odunjo therefore urged young people to move beyond being passive observers of the democratic process and become active participants.
According to him, political participation should not end with obtaining a Permanent Voter’s Card or casting a ballot, but should also include lawful and peaceful efforts to defend the sanctity of votes, remain vigilant and ensure that the people’s mandate is protected.
He charged the newly inaugurated stakeholders to organise, mobilise and educate their communities while promoting peaceful and issue based politics.
“The future we desire will only be achieved when we stand with unity, discipline and determination,” he said.
Also speaking, the State PDP Chairman, Hon. Adamu Issa Bawa, welcomed guests and participants to the event and commended the youth leadership for its efforts.
Bawa expressed optimism that the success recorded by the PDP in the recent Osun State election would serve as a source of encouragement for the party in Kwara, stressing that the state’s youths possessed the capacity to contribute significantly to the party’s electoral success.
He also commended the youth and women leaders for their roles in strengthening the party at the grassroots.
The guest speaker, Hon. Funsho Babarinde, Director of Youth, Students and Civil Society, Imole Campaign Council, Osun State, spoke extensively on lessons from the Osun election and the role of young people in Nigeria’s democratic development.
Babarinde commended the leadership of the party and acknowledged the contributions of the youths, women and other stakeholders in Osun State to the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
He noted that Nigerian youths occupy a significant position in the country’s democratic experience, pointing out that young people constitute a substantial proportion of the population and remain highly active in political conversations, rallies, campaigns, volunteer activities and the creation of political content.
However, he observed that their numerical strength had not always translated into proportional political influence.
Babarinde emphasised the importance of vote protection, stressing that it should not be associated with confrontation or violence.
He said young people could protect the electoral process through informed participation, election observation, proper documentation, understanding of electoral procedures, monitoring of the counting process, following the lawful transmission of results and resisting misinformation.
He also urged political participants to use legitimate institutional channels whenever electoral irregularities occurred.
According to him, the Osun experience demonstrated the need for young people to move from being mere participants in elections to becoming custodians of electoral integrity.
The new executives of the Kwara Central PDP Youth Stakeholders were subsequently inaugurated by the Kwara Central PDP Chairman, Alhaji Isiak Owolabi.
Among those inaugurated were the Chairman Hon. Abdulsalam Ajelana, Vice Chairman Hon. Atanda Shola David, Secretary Hon. Babatunde Okin, and other members of the executive.
In his remarks, the Kwara Central PDP Chairman assured the newly inaugurated stakeholders of the party’s support, promising to provide them with the necessary platform and resources to effectively carry out their responsibilities.
The event also featured representatives of former federal lawmaker, The PDP aspirant candidate for Governor Hon. Kawu, represented by Hon. Haroon Kanike, alongside other party leaders, stakeholders and supporters.