The youth wing of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Southwest converged on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti for a massive solidarity walk in support of Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, ahead of the June 20 governorship election.
The event, described as the first coordinated youth solidarity walk of its scale in the region for any sitting governor, was led by the Southwest Zonal Youth Leader of the APC, Barr. Adaramola Adesuyi, alongside APC youth leaders across the geopolitical zone.
The gathering drew a large turnout of party youth structures and support groups, who marched through designated routes before converging at the Government House to declare support for the governor’s re-election bid.
Speaking with journalists, participants consistently emphasized youth inclusion, continuity of ongoing programmes, and increased political participation among young voters across the state.
Leader of the team, Barr. Adesuyi Daramola noted that the solidarity walk was organized in recognition of what he described as the governor’s performance, particularly in youth development initiatives.
He stated that the mobilisation was aimed at encouraging young people across the state to turn out en masse on election day and ensure the continuation of what he referred to as a “working administration.”
Special Assistant on Youth Development, Maxwell Ajayi and Special Assistant, Special Duties, Ayomide Ojo George highlighted the administration’s efforts in youth empowerment, pointing to interventions such as capacity-building programmes and international exchange opportunities for young people.
They maintained that the governor’s leadership style had been inclusive and beneficial to youths across different sectors.
Similarly, Special Assistant on Service Delivery, Toba Fatunla, described the solidarity walk as a demonstration of appreciation for what he termed impactful governance in Ekiti State.
He argued that the benefits of the administration extend beyond youths to include children and the elderly, urging residents to participate actively in the upcoming election.
At the Government House, the Director General Bureau of Community Communications, Mary Oso Omotosho, who received the delegation on behalf of the governor, encouraged youths not to be complacent on election day.
She stressed the importance of voter turnout and urged young people to mobilize others across their communities, warning against apathy and assumptions of predetermined outcomes.
The event ended with renewed calls for sustained youth engagement in the democratic process, as supporters pledged continued mobilisation efforts ahead of the polls.
