In a dramatic show of political support, youths from Kogi State have purchased the 2027 presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, prompting the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to halt any further payments toward the same cause.
The announcement was made on Monday by the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, at the party’s National Secretariat shortly after receiving a N100 million manager’s cheque drawn from Zenith Bank.
“With this payment, henceforth, nobody should bother to bring money to buy a form for Mr. President again,” Yilwatda declared. “Because the form has been procured in advance. And I want to thank you for this procurement.”
The Kogi delegation was led by the state governor, Ahmed Ododo, who described the move as a reflection of the youths’ appreciation for Tinubu’s administration.
According to Yilwatda, the young supporters cited improvements in economic indicators, enhanced security efforts in Kogi State, and increased youth inclusion in governance as reasons for backing Tinubu’s potential 2027 bid.
He noted that federal security interventions, alongside the state government’s logistical support to the military, have helped tackle insecurity in affected communities across Kogi.
The APC chairman hailed the development as a historic shift in youth political engagement.
“To me, this is the first time in Nigeria’s history that youths are coming forward not to demand appointments or favours but to buy a nomination form for a sitting president,” he said.
Yilwatda emphasized that Tinubu’s administration has appointed several young Nigerians into strategic leadership roles, both within government and the party structure.
He cited his own emergence as one of the youngest national party chairmen during the current administration as evidence of generational inclusion.
Governor Ododo echoed the sentiment, stating that no previous administration had given Nigerian youths as much visibility and responsibility as the current government.
“In the history of this country, no government has ever given the youth as much space as Mr. President has done,” he said, adding that he himself is a beneficiary of that inclusiveness.
The development signals early mobilization within the APC ahead of the 2027 general election cycle.
While President Tinubu has yet to formally declare his intention to seek re-election, the symbolic purchase of his nomination form by party loyalists underscores growing support within key constituencies.
For now, the APC leadership has made it clear: the ticket is secured at least financially and no further cheques are required.