The Enduring Appeal Of Internal Democracy in Kwara PDP And The Rise Of Youth Participation
By Lawal Akanbi Sharafadeen
The recently concluded registration exercise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State from its inception gradually became more than just a bureaucratic formality, it evolved into a political phenomenon. I had the privilege of monitoring the exercise firsthand, particularly within my senatorial district Kwara Central, and I must say, the experience was as humbling as it was revealing.
It was not just the turnout that caught the eyes, but the texture of the crowd. From the Iya Olosans in the markets to the tailors, electricians, young graduates, undergraduates and seasoned professionals, the diversity of those who willingly submitted themselves to the party structure is a testament to something deeper at play. They came with intention, wearing an uncommon pride on their faces, eager to be counted, not just as voters, but as stakeholders in the PDP project.
My mind drifted back to the last local government election in Kwara, a contest many now agree that it served as a litmus test for what lies ahead in 2027. Despite the heavy-handedness of the ruling APC and the manipulation that saw its candidates imposed on the people, the outcome of that election reverberated beyond the ballot boxed. The PDP emerged from it with renewed public sympathy and growing grassroots support. The masses made their feelings known not just through resistance, but through commitment to an alternative political future. And that future, it appears, wears the face of the PDP as seen through the emphatical data at my disposal of the just concluded PDP membership registration exercise in which over 50% of the voting strength of a state with a population of 3.1 million people have now joined the Kwara State Peoples democratic party, this is indeed a fantastic achievement.
What we are witnessing now, through this mass registration, is the continuation of that resistance. People are not just reacting, they are organizing, they are making bold choices in the face of intimidation and dysfunction. It is easy to underestimate the significance of this registration wave, but when citizens actively cross the line from political apathy to party membership particularly in an opposition party, it speaks volumes about the condition of the present administration and the yearning for change.
For the PDP in Kwara, this is more than a number game, it is an opportunity to deepen internal democracy, something the party has gradually come to embody more openly than its counterparts in recent years. One of the biggest takeaways from this process is the visible inclusion of young people, they are not just joining for the optics or mobilization efforts; they are organizing meetings, leading documentation teams, managing logistics, and engaging their peers. This is not tokenism, it is actual involvement, it is empowerment, it is a sign that the PDP, at least in Kwara State, is cultivating a culture of mentorship and generational synergy.
But this, however, is not the time for complacenc, if this momentum is to birth meaningful political transformation, then a stronger bridge must be built between the older generation and the emerging young political class. There must be room for learning, for collaboration, and above all, for shared purpose. The future of the PDP in Kwara or anywhere for that matter does not belong to one generation alone.
This is where pro-democracy groups and civil society organizations must also step in. It is not enough to criticize from a distance or grumble in private. The excesses and alarming ineptitude of the current Kwara State APC administration must be continually called out, citizens must be mobilized, not just around parties, but around values, accountability, service, inclusion, and justice.
The PDP, by embracing its grassroots, energizing its youth base, and fostering a sense of genuine internal democracy, has begun a process that might well define its trajectory toward 2027. Whether it can sustain this spirit and translate it into political victory remains to be seen, but for now, the signs are hopeful, and in a time like this, hope is not just necessary,it is revolutionary.
Lawal Akanbi Sharafadeen writes from Kwara State
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