IJEBU IGBO, Ogun State — Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and over 2,000 young residents gathered in Ijebu Igbo on Friday, July 31, 2026, for a youth engagement summit aimed at consolidating party structures ahead of the 2027 general elections and addressing regional governance demands.
The event, designated as the “Strategic Ijebu North Youth Retreat/Engagement,” was held at the Omo Ilu Hall.
Convened by Prince Farooq Adenugba, Special Adviser to the Governor on OPIC, Housing, and Special Projects, the summit served as both an early grassroots mobilization effort for the APC’s “Project 2027” and an interactive forum for local youth to demand structural economic and political reforms.
During the proceedings, organizers explicitly outlined the ruling party’s projected leadership trajectory for Ogun State in 2027. The movement formally positioned Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the APC governorship candidate, alongside Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun as his running mate. The retreat also signaled support for Governor Dapo Abiodun to contest the Ogun East Senatorial seat, aligning the local movement with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Beyond electoral alignments, participating youths presented a comprehensive list of community needs, cautioning politicians against engaging young people strictly during campaign seasons and abandoning them post-election.
Key issues raised by participants included the establishment of local industries to boost employment, expanding vocational and technical training centers, improving rural roads to facilitate agricultural transport, guaranteeing reliable electricity, restoring local government autonomy, and implementing immediate flood control measures. Youths also requested the creation of permanent constituency offices to submit formal complaints and called for active measures to discourage political thuggery and violence.
Addressing the people, Adenugba stressed that the forum was intended to establish an ongoing civic dialogue rather than function strictly as a campaign event.
“This was not a campaign. It was an opportunity to compare notes, identify the pain points affecting the youths and society, and also share some of the initiatives, programmes and projects the government is implementing,” Adenugba said.
Responding directly to infrastructure concerns, Adenugba announced that the Ogun State government has approved the immediate reconstruction of the road connecting the Permanent Site of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) to Ijebu Igbo, setting a six-month completion deadline. He added that all documented resolutions and recommendations from the retreat would be forwarded to relevant state and federal agencies for policy consideration.
Senior political leaders in attendance praised the initiative as a step toward transparent governance. Otunba Deji Kalejaiye, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, noted that providing a platform for more than 2,000 young people to directly question public officials helps deepen democratic accountability and public trust.
The retreat brought together several prominent political figures, including House of Representatives Member Hon. Joseph Adegbesan; Ogun State House of Assembly Members Hon. Olatunbosun Ipaye and Hon. Engr. Segun Odunuga (Kaka); former Senator Gbenga Kaka; Senior Special Adviser on Transport Alhaji Hon. Moibi Olufidun; former Ijebu North Local Government Chairman Barr. Adebayo Adebola Adekoya; and youth leader Comrade Muizz Olarenwaju Olatunji.
