Firdaus Obiremi
Thousands of youths and supporters of the All Progressives Congress in the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency of Ogun State have taken to the streets in a massive solidarity walk to mobilise support for the party and its candidates ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The mobilisation, organised by the APC Youth Movement in the constituency, was described by party leaders as a demonstration of grassroots strength, unity and growing youth participation in the political process.
The exercise, tagged the 5,000-Youth Mega Solidarity Walk, drew participants from the 21 wards across Ifo and Ewekoro, with the procession passing through major communities, markets and public areas amid music, dancing and other displays of youthful enthusiasm.
The procession commenced at the palace of the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akamo, where the participants received royal blessings before moving through Papalanto, Arigbajo and other parts of the constituency.
Among those who participated in the walk were the APC candidate for the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye; Deputy Director-General of the Federal Constituency campaign, Hon. Israel Jolaosho; Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Youth, Comrade Lamide Lawal; and APC candidates for Ewekoro and Ifo I State Constituencies, Hon. Biodun Adeleye and Hon. Ibrahim Amosu, respectively.
Other party leaders and stakeholders, including Hon. Kikelomo Delano and Hon. Idris Kushimo, also joined the procession.
The procession later moved through Arigbajo Market, where Adeleye, Jolaosho and other party leaders engaged residents and market women and distributed campaign materials.
The participants subsequently passed through the entrance of Ifo Local Government, Abekoko, Iyana Coker and Ifo Main Market before moving through Fulham, Shoremekun Memorial Hospital and Vespa, eventually returning to the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency Campaign Office of Adeleye.
Speaking after the exercise, Adeleye said the turnout was a strong indication of the enthusiasm of the people, particularly young voters, to participate actively in the political process.
She said the mobilisation had demonstrated that the political future of Ifo/Ewekoro could not be separated from the energy, ideas and aspirations of its younger population.
Adeleye urged the youths not to allow the mobilisation to end with the solidarity walk, but to translate their enthusiasm into sustained community engagement, voter mobilisation and peaceful participation in the electoral process.
She said, “We must strive to sustain this drive and continue to mobilise our people to come out en masse and vote for all our APC candidates. Our strength lies in our unity, our organisation and our ability to take this message of progress to every ward and community across Ifo/Ewekoro.”
The APC candidate stressed that political participation should go beyond attending rallies and political events, urging the youths to remain informed, organised and responsive to the concerns of residents in their respective communities.
According to her, sustained grassroots engagement would be crucial to ensuring that the aspirations and concerns of residents remained central to political representation.
Adeleye also commended the youth leaders, party stakeholders and participants for their commitment and peaceful conduct throughout the procession.
She called for greater unity among APC supporters across the constituency and urged them to sustain the mobilisation for the party’s candidates, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, Hon. Abiodun Adeleye, Hon. Ibrahim Amosu and Hon. Fola Salami.
The mega walk came as political parties and their supporters intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the forthcoming elections, with youth participation increasingly becoming a major factor in campaign strategies across the country.
.....
