Osi, Ekiti LGA, Kwara State | April 12, 2026
Less than 24 hours after declaring his intention to contest, Hon Barr Gbenga Peter Makanjuola has secured a major endorsement from Ekiti Local Government Area, as youths under the coalition “Ekiti Youth Voices” declared full support for his Kwara South Senatorial ambition.
The declaration, which took place during a press briefing in Osi on Sunday, was led by Amb Anjorin Babatunde, Former Chairmanship Aspirant of Ekiti LGA.
According to Anjorin, the group’s backing is anchored on Makanjuola’s performance as former member representing Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Irepodun and Isin Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
“Hon Barr Gbenga Makanjuola is known for standing by promises,” Anjorin told pressmen present. “As our federal representative, he facilitated projects, empowered constituents, and remained accessible. Kwara South cannot afford trial and error in 2027. We need a man who has done it before and can do it again at a higher level.”
Members of Ekiti Youth Voices, comprising youth leaders, student unionists, artisans, and young professionals across Ekiti LGA wards, insisted that the current state of Kwara South requires tested legislative capacity and grassroots reach.
Speaking for the group, spokesperson Miss Khadijat Lawal said the senatorial district needs “an experienced mind who knows the length and breadth of the Senatorial District and who is willing to work with necessary stakeholders to achieve the goals.”
Lawal pointed to Makanjuola’s familiarity with the seven LGAs of Kwara South, his strong ties with traditional institutions, and his record of constituency interventions. “He understands our roads, our schools, our markets, and our security gaps because he has walked them with us. That is not something you learn on the job,” she said.
The coalition called on party leaders and delegates across political divides, especially within the ruling party in the state, to back Makanjuola’s candidacy for what they termed “the actualization of our dreams.”
“We are appealing to our fathers and mothers in the party,” Anjorin added. “Give Kwara South the best chance at effective representation. Hon Makanjuola has the competence, the temperament, and the contacts in Abuja to attract federal presence to our communities.”
Makanjuola, a legal practitioner and grassroots mobilizer, made his senatorial intention public earlier this week. Political observers say the swift endorsement from Ekiti LGA signals a solid political structure ahead of party primaries scheduled for later this year, leading up to the 2027 general elections.
Ekiti Youth Voices disclosed plans to commence ward-to-ward sensitization and establish liaison desks across Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Irepodun, and Isin LGAs to mobilize support. The group also pledged to extend engagements to youth blocs in Offa, Oyun, and Ifelodun LGAs to build a district-wide coalition.
“2027 is about capacity,” Anjorin concluded. “Kwara South does not need a novice. We need Hon Gbenga Peter Makanjuola in the Senate.”
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