A political commentator, Mr Folahanmi Odunayo, has faulted the recent endorsement of Chief Alex Ajipe for the Ondo North senatorial seat by the Owo Youths General Assembly, describing the move as ill-timed amid Nigeria’s volatile political environment.
Odunayo, in a statement issued on Monday, said while youth participation in politics was commendable, premature endorsements could weaken the influence and bargaining power of youth groups within the political process.
He noted that the political landscape, particularly at the sub-national level, remained fluid, with party structures, zoning arrangements and elite negotiations yet to fully crystallise ahead of the next senatorial contest.
Below is the full statement:
Owo Youth General Assembly’s Endorsement of Chief Alex Ajipe for Senate: A Wrong Timing in a Volatile Political System
In every democratic society, youth participation in politics is not only encouraged but celebrated. The youths are the heartbeat of political consciousness, the conscience of society, and the vanguard of progressive change. However, when youth platforms are deployed without strategic timing, deep consultation, and adequate political foresight, noble intentions can quickly become counterproductive. This is the context within which the Owo Youths General Assembly’s endorsement of Chief Alex Ajipe for the Senate must be critically examined.
Nigeria’s political system, particularly at the sub-national level, is anything but stable. It is volatile, fluid, and often driven by rapidly shifting alliances, party supremacy, zoning calculations, and elite negotiations. In such an environment, political endorsements—especially by youth groups—carry consequences far beyond the immediate excitement of public declarations.
The endorsement of Chief Alex Ajipe at this time raises serious questions about timing, strategy, and political sensitivity. While Chief Ajipe may possess personal credentials, experience, or goodwill within certain circles, the political space for senatorial contests is not yet fully crystallized. Party structures are still in flux, alignments are yet to settle, and internal consultations. within major stakeholders across the senatorial district are ongoing. Making a premature endorsement in such a climate risks. isolating the youth body from other influential blocs and reducing their collective bargaining power when it will matter most.
More importantly, the endorsement exposes the Owo Youths General Assembly to accusations of partisanship at a time when the group ought to maintain moral authority as a unifying platform. Youth organizations gain relevance not by taking early sides, but by setting agendas, demanding issue-based politics, and compelling aspirants to commit to clear developmental goals. By endorsing a specific aspirant too early, the Assembly risks being perceived as an appendage of political ambition rather than an independent voice of the people.
The volatility of the current political system also means that today’s favored aspirant could easily become tomorrow’s casualty of party politics. Nigerian political history is replete with examples of strong aspirants who were edged out by party primaries, zoning arrangements, or last-minute elite consensus. Should such a scenario unfold, the Owo Youths General Assembly may find itself politically stranded—having invested its credibility in a process it does not control.
There is also the broader communal implication. Owo, as a politically conscious and historically strategic community, must be careful not to project internal disunity or desperation. A premature endorsement sends the wrong signal to neighboring constituencies and stakeholders within the senatorial district, many of whom are equally weighing their interests. Politics at the senatorial level requires coalition-building, patience, and quiet negotiation—not rushed proclamations driven by momentary enthusiasm.
Furthermore, youth endorsement should ideally be the culmination of a rigorous process: engagement with multiple aspirants, public debates, policy commitments, and clear benchmarks for accountability. Anything short of this weakens the legitimacy of the endorsement and reduces it to symbolism rather than substance.
This is not an argument against Chief Alex Ajipe, nor is it a rejection of youth involvement in electoral politics. Rather, it is a call for strategic restraint. In a volatile political system, timing is everything. The same endorsement, if made at the right moment—after party primaries, clearer alignments, and broader consultations—could carry far more weight and command greater respect.
In conclusion, the Owo Youths General Assembly must reflect deeply on the long-term implications of its actions. Youth power is strongest when it is deliberate, strategic, and principled. In politics, especially within Nigeria’s unpredictable terrain, moving too early can be just as dangerous as moving too late. For now, the endorsement of Chief Alex Ajipe for the Senate appears to be a case of right intention, but wrong timing.
Folahanmi Odunayo
2nd Feb, 2026
Igboroko 1 ward 2
Owo Local Government.
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