Okun youths on Saturday endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for second terms in office at a political rally organised by the Okun Youth Alliance (OYA) Movement in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The rally, held at the 1,500-capacity GYB Civic Centre, attracted a large gathering of youths from across Okunland, with participants filling the venue and spilling into adjoining streets.
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The event, tagged the OYA 2027 Election Endorsement Rally, provided a platform for the youths to articulate their views on the 2027 elections and the direction of governance at both the federal and state levels.
Addressing the gathering, Convener of the OYA Movement, Hon. Oladele John NIHI, said the endorsement of President Tinubu was based on what he described as the administration’s interventions in Kogi State, particularly in the Okun axis.
NIHI cited infrastructure development and the appointment of Kogi and Okun indigenes into strategic positions within the Federal Government as some of the factors informing the group’s position.
He specifically mentioned the appointments of Okun sons and daughters to positions including the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, among others.
According to him, the appointments demonstrated what he described as increased inclusion of Okun people in national governance under the Tinubu administration.
The OYA Convener also announced the group’s endorsement of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for a second term, citing what he described as the governor’s performance and development initiatives across Kogi State.
NIHI said the youths were particularly interested in continuity, arguing that sustained leadership would enable ongoing programmes and development initiatives to receive further attention.
He urged Okun youths to remain actively engaged in governance and political processes, stressing that young people should not only participate during elections but should also contribute to shaping policies and determining the developmental priorities of their communities.
The rally also featured speeches and solidarity messages from youth leaders and stakeholders from across Okunland.
The organisers described the gathering as a demonstration of the growing political consciousness and mobilisation of Okun youths ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement places the OYA Movement among the youth groups that have publicly declared support for the continuity of the Tinubu administration at the federal level and the Ododo administration in Kogi State ahead of the 2027 elections.
