Hon. Aremu Babatunde, Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Leader, has endorsed Adetomiwa Adetilewa as the preferred candidate for Ijebu Central Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives election. The endorsement was announced on Thursday during a meeting between Babatunde and Adetilewa in Ijebu Ode. Babatunde stated that youth members across the constituency, under his leadership, have unanimously backed Adetilewa as the most credible and dependable candidate to represent their interests at the National Assembly. He cited Adetilewa's track record, vision, and commitment to youth development as key factors in the decision.
Babatunde noted that Adetilewa enjoys strong support from APC leadership at the national, state, and local levels, which he said boosts confidence in the aspirant's chances of victory. He called on other youths in the constituency to join the campaign and work collectively toward Adetilewa's emergence. In response, Adetilewa described the endorsement as a vote of confidence in his vision and capacity for quality representation. He emphasized his dedication to inclusive development, youth empowerment, and responsive leadership. Adetilewa pledged to prioritize policies that create opportunities for young people and urged party members and constituents to unite behind the APC's electoral success.
Aremu Babatunde's endorsement of Adetomiwa Adetilewa is less about youth empowerment and more a signal of consolidation within Ogun APC's internal hierarchy. By framing the youth wing's "unanimous" support as a collective verdict, Babatunde positions himself not just as a youth leader but as a political gatekeeper with influence over electoral outcomes in Ijebu Central. This is not merely an endorsement—it's a demonstration of control, suggesting that access to youth blocs now runs through established party figures rather than organic youth movements.
The claim that Adetilewa enjoys backing at national, state, and local APC levels indicates this is a top-down endorsed candidacy, cloaked in the language of grassroots momentum. While Adetilewa speaks of issue-based campaigns and inclusivity, the reality is that such endorsements often matter more than policy in Nigerian primaries. The emphasis on unity and party cohesion serves to pre-empt dissent, especially from rival aspirants who may lack similar institutional backing. Youth support, in this context, becomes a political asset to be mobilized, not a constituency to be served.
For residents of Ijebu Central, particularly young voters, the real impact lies in whether Adetilewa delivers on job creation and representation beyond election rhetoric. Endorsements like Babatunde's may shape candidate selection, but they do little to ensure accountability once in office. The pattern reflects a broader trend in Nigerian politics where party structures anoint candidates in the name of unity, often sidelining competitive primaries. When internal democracy is bypassed, voters are left with pre-packaged choices, and representation becomes a function of loyalty, not mandate.
