Ogun 2027: Olopade Backs Senator Yayi, Urges Youth Politics

ABEOKUTA – Bukola Olopade, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, has charged the vibrant youths of Ogun State to get actively involved in politics, not just with their presence at rallies but with their intellect and vision, as he formally declared support for the gubernatorial ambition of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

NaijaChoice News reports that Olopade made the strong call on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the sidelines of a special interfaith religious prayer and declaration of support event organised by the Yayi Youth Vanguard at the Skating Ground, Panseke, Abeokuta.

Represented by his Special Adviser/Technical Adviser on Strategy and Policy Development, Abiola Odetola, the NSC boss described the massive gathering as a clear signal of the direction Ogun State politics is heading.

Olopade aligned the event with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national vision, describing the President’s leadership as forward-thinking and deliberate in pushing youth inclusion, capacity development, and generational renewal. He noted that Tinubu’s confidence in young Nigerians, seen through policies and governance style, is sparking fresh political awareness across the country. This approach, anchored on competence, opportunity, and structured empowerment, he said, is exactly what Nigeria needs for real progress at both federal and state levels.

“This is a declaration of support for, by the grace of God, the incoming Governor of Ogun State, Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi. What you’re seeing here is more than a prayer session. I think what you will call this is progress, a declaration of what is to come in Ogun. This is a show, a display of the confidence young people across the state have in the person that we consider our candidate already even though the process is on. Come 2027, the pendulum is switching towards Ogun West,” Olopade stated through his representative.

The former Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, who was appointed NSC DG by President Tinubu in November 2024, urged the youths to move beyond surface-level participation. He stressed the need for young people to occupy centre stage with fresh ideas and leadership skills.

Olopade pointed out a worrying gap: many young people stay stuck at local levels through rallies and grassroots work without advancing to national governance roles. He warned that without more platforms like this one, future generations may lose interest in politics entirely.

“If you check over the years, the average age of young people that have been within the governance system in Ogun State and juxtapose that with the number of those who have made it to the National level in governance and leadership, you will understand that there is a need for more of events like this. Where we belong, both as a political group within the APC and of course, where the youth constituency today stand is: What will happen to the future of young people today in Ogun? How do we maintain the continuity of the good things that we have enjoyed under the APC government, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun? What do we need to do from now to show that the youths are ready for Senator Olamilekan Adeola?” he stressed.

Senator Adeola, who represents Ogun West in the National Assembly and chairs the powerful Senate Committee on Appropriations, has earned widespread praise for delivering life-changing constituency projects across the district. Recent endorsements from Ogun West professionals further position him as a leading contender, with many seeing his ambition as a move to correct historical imbalances in the state’s governorship zoning.

The event, themed “Consolidating a Brighter Future for Ogun Youth: Inclusiveness in Politics and Governance,” pulled thousands of energetic youths from the three senatorial districts of Ogun State.

Convener of the Yayi Youth Vanguard, Olamide Lawal, explained that the prayer session was designed to spark political awakening among the state’s young population.

“If you get involved in politics, there are benefits of good governance that you will get. If you don’t get involved, you cannot blame the government. You have to be actively involved to influence any change and to influence developments into your community,” Lawal said.

As the countdown to 2027 gathers momentum, stakeholders say events like this are redefining youth roles in Ogun politics and strengthening the APC’s hold on the state.