APC youth leaders hail youth minister’s inclusion in presidential campaign council

FILE: The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande

Youth leaders of the All Progressives Congress across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have pledged their total support for the appointment of the Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, as a member of the Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The ruling party on Saturday released the complete membership list of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, in which Olawande was appointed Director of Youth Mobilisation of the council.

In a statement issued by the Chairman, Forum of 37 APC State Youth Leaders, Zaka Nehemiah, the forum described Olawande’s appointment as strategic and appropriate for youth mobilisation across the country ahead of the 2027 poll.

The statement was made available to our correspondent on Monday.

According to the statement, the forum, which congratulated Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari on his appointment as Director-General of the campaign council, expressed readiness to work with Olawande to ensure that the presidential campaign reaches the nooks and crannies of the country, particularly the grassroots.

The statement read, “Olawande’s experience as a former Youth Leader in Ondo State has equipped him with a strong understanding of grassroots mobilisation, youth engagement and political coordination.

“His appointment further underscores the importance of young people in the political process and reflects a commitment to giving youth leaders a meaningful role in the mobilisation and coordination of the 2027 campaign.”

The forum disclosed that it had a structure comprising more than 19,533 youth leaders across 17,802 wards, 1,548 local government areas, 109 senatorial districts, the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, pledging its full support and cooperation with the youth minister in the discharge of his responsibilities in the campaign council.

“Our members would deploy their grassroots structures and networks towards effective youth mobilisation and the broader objectives of the Presidential Campaign Council,” the group declared.

It also expressed confidence that the combination of Senator Yari’s leadership and Olawande’s youth mobilisation experience would contribute significantly to a well-coordinated, inclusive and victory-oriented campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.