- New council leadership highlights growing role of young people and women in elective offices and grassroots administration
By: Comrade Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi
The inauguration of newly elected local government officials across Kogi State has brought renewed attention to the place of young people and women in governance, highlighting a political direction associated with former Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello and being continued under Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The October 17, 2026, local government elections produced new leadership across the state’s 21 local government areas, with elected chairmen and councillors assuming responsibilities at the grassroots. The official results published by the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission provide a record of the elected officials across the councils and wards. .
For residents in towns, villages and rural communities, local government leadership is where governance becomes personal. It is where decisions on community roads, primary healthcare, sanitation, local markets and other basic needs directly affect everyday life. The participation of young people and women in these positions therefore represents an important aspect of grassroots political representation.
Bello’s administration made youth inclusion a prominent feature of its political approach, opening up opportunities for younger people to participate in governance, political appointments and party leadership. His tenure helped place youth representation firmly in Kogi’s political conversation, challenging the notion that young people should remain limited to campaign mobilisation and other supporting roles.
His approach gave greater visibility to the idea that young citizens could take up responsibilities in public administration and contribute to decisions affecting their communities. The significance of this legacy lies in expanding the conversation from youth participation to youth leadership.
Women’s inclusion is equally important. Across Kogi, women contribute to family welfare, farming, trading, community development and political mobilisation. Their representation in elected councils and government appointments provides an opportunity for these contributions to be reflected more directly in public decision-making.
The current local government leadership offers another platform for women to participate in shaping policies and addressing community needs. Their presence in elective positions also reinforces the principle that leadership opportunities should be open to capable individuals regardless of gender.
Governor Ododo deserves recognition for continuing the emphasis on inclusive governance as his administration works with the new local government leadership. Building on the political foundation established under Bello, his administration has an opportunity to strengthen youth participation, widen women’s representation and ensure that the grassroots remains accessible to a new generation of leaders.
The relationship between the two administrations is particularly significant in the development of Kogi’s political structure. While Bello’s tenure helped establish youth inclusion as a defining feature of the state’s political conversation, Ododo’s task is to sustain and deepen that approach through effective governance, opportunities for emerging leaders and improved public service delivery.
The impact must ultimately be felt beyond government offices and political gatherings. Young people should see a pathway from community service to leadership. Women should have opportunities to influence decisions affecting their families and communities. Rural residents should experience the benefits through responsive leadership and practical development projects.
The elected councils provide a concrete basis for examining youth and women representation in grassroots governance.
As the new officials settle into their responsibilities, the challenge is to translate representation into results. Political appointments and elective positions must provide platforms for service, accountability and development rather than merely confer status.
Bello and Ododo’s shared emphasis on broadening participation in Kogi politics places youth and women inclusion at the centre of an important governance conversation. Sustaining that direction will require continued opportunities for emerging leaders, support for women’s participation and a strong focus on the needs of ordinary citizens.
Ultimately, the real measure of inclusive governance is not simply how many young people and women occupy public offices, but how effectively they use those positions to improve the lives of the people they represent.
– Comrade Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi writes from Okene.
