By Innocent Anaba

The Youth Party has launched what it described as a nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign ahead of its ward, state and national congresses, declaring that it is “the solution” to Nigeria’s political and governance challenges.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement, a party official, Solomon Oyekunle, said the movement was determined to break away from what he called the “old order” in Nigerian politics by focusing on competence, accountability and community-based action.

According to him, the party’s Ward and Local Government Congresses are scheduled for Saturday, May 16, while the State Congresses will hold on Wednesday, May 20. The National Convention is slated for Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Oyekunle said the party was not positioning itself as “a waiting room for 2027” but as “the emergency room for Nigeria right now.”

“We are not here to ask for a seat at the table of the old order. We are building a new table,” he said.
Clarifying the party’s identity, Oyekunle stressed that the Youth Party was not restricted by age but by what he described as its commitment to fresh ideas and problem-solving leadership.

“We are not a retirement plan for career politicians looking for a softer landing. This is a platform for builders, for people who solve problems — whether they are 25 or 55,” he said.

“Competence is our credential. Accountability is our religion. And the people are our only godfather.”
The party also disclosed that it had commenced a grassroots membership drive aimed at converting supporters into active recruiters across communities.

According to a field coordinator, the mobilisation strategy would rely more on direct engagement with residents in markets, motor parks, offices, factories and worship centres than on large political rallies.
“We don’t have money to buy crowds. So we are earning them — one honest conversation, one cleared drainage, one open microphone at a time,” the coordinator said.

“When you see our volunteers in your community fixing what the government abandoned, know that we are not campaigning. We are already governing.”

The party further stated that its forthcoming National Convention would depart from conventional political gatherings by introducing “The People’s Podium,” a session where ordinary Nigerians, including teachers, commercial motorcyclists and market women, would present demands gathered from a nationwide listening tour.

“We are burying the era where politicians speak and the people listen. In the Youth Party, the people speak first,” Oyekunle added.

He maintained that many young Nigerians were moving beyond social media criticism to active political participation.

“Young Nigerians are no longer writing long threads on social media and hoping things will change. They are picking up membership cards. They are becoming the government they were told would never come,” he said.

The National Convention is expected to attract delegates, volunteers and first-time members from across the country.

One of the major highlights of the event, according to the party, will be the unveiling of “Solution Squads,” described as community action teams expected to drive local interventions and citizen engagement across states.

“We are not only committed to reclaiming leadership for the people. We are taking back ownership for the state of our communities and our nation. For far too long we abdicated our duty to distant politicians,” Oyekunle said.