The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Abdulrahman Muhammed Takushara, has said the PDP will deliberately create pathways for young people to move from political participation to meaningful leadership positions.
In his message to mark International Youth Day 2026 themed “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”, Takushara said Nigerian youths are already active participants in politics today and must be given space in decision-making, policy development and leadership within the party.
The PDP Chairman said while young people come from different backgrounds, regions and economic circumstances, their aspirations remain the same: a society where their voices matter, their efforts are rewarded, their rights are protected and their future is not determined by the circumstances of their birth.
“For us in the PDP, this reality must inform how we engage, empower and position young people within our Party. Nigerian youths are not merely the leaders of tomorrow; they are active participants in the political process today,” he stated.
Takushara listed PDP youths as party organisers, grassroots mobilisers, campaigners, professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators and emerging political leaders who have demonstrated capacity to provide ideas and leadership.
He, however, acknowledged the challenges confronting young people, including economic hardship, limited access to opportunities, political exclusion and “a system that too often asks young people to provide political energy without giving them commensurate space to influence decisions.
”“A strong political party must create pathways for young people to progress from political participation to meaningful political power. Youth engagement should therefore go beyond mobilising young people during elections,” the Chairman said.
Takushara assured that under his leadership, the PDP will go beyond rhetoric on youth development.“The Peoples Democratic Party under my leadership as National Chairman, will not only speak about preparing young people for leadership; but will deliberately create the pathways that allow them to lead,” he said.
He added that as the PDP rebuilds and repositions, young people’s ideas, experiences and aspirations must help shape the party and the Nigeria it seeks to govern.
He called for an environment where competence, character, commitment and ideas, not age, connections or financial capacity alone, determine how far a young person can rise.
The PDP Chairman noted that the diversity of Nigeria’s youth population is a strength. Citing examples from Kano, Lagos, Enugu, Rivers, Ekiti, Borno, Imo and FCT, he said their fundamental aspirations for dignity, opportunity, security, quality education and responsive governance remain the same.“Different contexts, common aspirations should therefore inspire greater solidarity among our young people and stronger cooperation across our political and social divides,” he said.
Takushara urged PDP leaders and stakeholders to listen more closely to young people and make youth inclusion a sustained political practice rather than an occasional slogan.
“The future of the PDP and, indeed, the future of Nigeria will depend significantly on our ability to identify, nurture and entrust capable young leaders with responsibility,” he concluded.He reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to a future in which every young Nigerian, regardless of background, region or circumstance, can participate meaningfully, compete fairly and rise to positions of responsibility.
