In an unprecedented display of political solidarity, thousands of youths under the aegis of the Okun Youth Alliance (OYA) Movement on Saturday shut down Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, as they formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for second terms in office ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The landmark gathering, tagged the “OYA 2027 Election Endorsement Rally,” completely overwhelmed the 1,500-capacity GYB Civic Centre. Enthusiastic participants filled the auditorium to capacity and spilled into surrounding streets in a high-energy demonstration of youth mobilization across Okunland.
Addressing the crowd, the Convener of the OYA Movement, Hon. Oladele John Nihi, stated that the group’s endorsement of President Tinubu was informed by the administration’s strategic interventions in Kogi State, particularly within the Okun axis. He emphasized that the President’s commitment to regional development has been demonstrated through infrastructure upgrades and the deliberate inclusion of Kogi indigenes in top-tier federal governance.
Nihi specifically highlighted the appointments of prominent Okun sons and daughters to strategic positions within the Federal Government, including the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ajaokuta Steel Company. According to him, these appointments mark an unprecedented level of integration and recognition for the Okun people at the national level.
In the same vein, the OYA Convener announced the movement’s endorsement of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for a second term, pointing to the governor’s transformative performance and balanced developmental initiatives across Kogi State. Nihi noted that the youths are firmly focused on continuity, arguing that sustained leadership at both the state and federal levels is essential to ensure ongoing projects and policies are fully realized.
Calling for sustained political activity, Nihi urged Okun youths to remain deeply involved in democratic processes. He stressed that young people must move beyond being passive voters during election cycles and actively participate in shaping public policies and driving the developmental agenda of their communities.
The event featured solidarity messages and goodwill speeches from prominent youth leaders and community stakeholders from across Okunland, who commended OYA for fostering political consciousness in the region. With this declaration, the OYA Movement positions itself among the prominent youth blocs openly backing the continuity of both the Tinubu administration at the centre and the Ododo administration in Kogi State ahead of 2027.
