A youth support group in Ondo State, Ondo Youth Alliance for Tinubu, has pledged to mobilise massive support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the next presidential election, setting a target of securing at least one million votes for him in the state.
The group made the declaration on Tuesday during its inauguration in Akure, the Ondo State capital, where its Director-General, Thalis Olonite Apalowo, addressed journalists on its mobilisation plans.
Apalowo said the target was achievable, noting that the All Progressives Congress had continued to record defections from other political parties across the state.
He added that Ondo State recorded one of the highest percentages of votes for the President during the 2023 general elections despite the strength of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the state at the time.
Explaining the reasons for the group’s support for the President’s re-election bid, Apalowo highlighted several youth-focused programmes introduced by the current administration, particularly initiatives aimed at expanding access to education and economic opportunities.
According to him, the Federal Government’s student loan initiative under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund has enabled hundreds of thousands of Nigerian students to pursue higher education without financial constraints.
He said over 510,000 students across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had already benefited from the scheme, describing it as a major intervention that has opened educational opportunities for many young Nigerians.
Apalowo also cited other empowerment initiatives, including affordable credit programmes such as CreditCorp, which he said had provided more than N30bn in loans to over 150,000 Nigerians for the purchase of digital devices, vehicles, solar energy systems and home improvements.
He added that the government’s support for innovation through the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises Programme was helping young entrepreneurs and creatives explore opportunities in the digital and creative sectors.
The group’s leader also commended the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for what he described as his innovative leadership since assuming office.
According to him, the minister has introduced reforms and technology-driven solutions to improve efficiency within the ministry and enhance public service delivery.
“A good term deserves another,” Apalowo said. “We believe continuity is important for the reforms currently being implemented by the President. Four years is not enough to complete the transformation agenda.”
He recalled that Ondo State delivered over 360,000 votes for Tinubu in the last presidential election, adding that the group was determined to significantly increase that figure in the next poll.
“Our target is to mobilise at least one million votes for the President in Ondo State. This movement is aimed at strengthening support and improving on the votes recorded previously,” he added.
Also speaking, the group’s Director of Students Affairs, Fakunwumi Folorunsho, said youths across the state were uniting in support of the President, citing reforms in the education sector and the increase in the monthly allowance for members of the National Youth Service Corps.
He described the policies as evidence of the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare and opportunities of young Nigerians.
Similarly, the Director of Community Engagement of the group, Ibrahim Azeez, said the decision to support the President was also influenced by the performance of the Interior Minister, whom he said had consistently supported youth initiatives in Ondo State.
He added that the group would intensify grassroots mobilisation efforts across communities in the state to ensure stronger voter turnout in support of the President in the next election.
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