By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
The Okun Youth Vanguard, a coalition of concerned youths from Kogi West, has endorsed Hon. Abiodun James Faleke as its preferred candidate for the 2027 Kogi State governorship election, saying the district deserves an opportunity to produce the next governor of the state.
The group, in a statement signed by its National President, Comr. Wole Olonisaye, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, said its position was driven by the principles of fairness, equity and inclusive political representation.
The endorsement followed the recent backing of Faleke by the Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Youth Organization (NYO), which had called for broader political representation among the three senatorial districts.
According to the Okun Youth Vanguard, the political history of Kogi State provides a strong basis for the agitation for a Kogi West governorship ticket in 2027.
The group noted that Kogi Central had produced governors for approximately 12 consecutive years, while Kogi West had yet to occupy the governorship position since the creation of the state.
It therefore described the 2027 election as an opportunity for the people of Kogi State to demonstrate their commitment to equity, fairness and rotational justice.
“Politics should not permanently belong to one senatorial district. Every part of Kogi State deserves a sense of belonging, and Kogi West should not continue to be treated as a perpetual spectator in the struggle for the highest political office in the state,” the group said.
The Vanguard described Faleke as a politician with considerable legislative, administrative and political experience, saying his years in public service had exposed him to governance, policy formulation and national political processes.
It urged political stakeholders, particularly youths and emerging leaders across the state, to look beyond partisan considerations and focus on what it described as the broader question of fairness and political inclusion.
“We are not asking Kogi people to support a candidate merely because of where he comes from. We are asking them to consider whether, after decades of political development, it is fair for an entire senatorial district to have never produced a governor,” the group stated.
The youth coalition stressed that supporting Kogi West in 2027 should not be interpreted as opposition to other senatorial districts, but rather as a call for balance and inclusiveness in the distribution of political opportunities.
It also called on political parties preparing for the 2027 governorship contest to take the growing demand for equity seriously, saying youths across the state were increasingly interested in issues of representation, fairness and accountability.
The Okun Youth Vanguard consequently declared its support for the emerging campaign around Faleke and urged Kogi youths to actively participate in the political process ahead of the 2027 election.
“We believe 2027 presents Kogi State with an opportunity to correct an obvious imbalance, strengthen unity among the three senatorial districts and give every citizen a stronger sense of belonging.
“For us, 2027 should be about fairness, competence and inclusion—and Kogi West deserves its turn,” the group declared.
