At the recently concluded national congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Mr. Umar Dan Aji, a young and dedicated party stalwart from Kogi State has been elected as the new National Youth Leader of the Party.
Dan Aji’s election signals a fresh injection of youthful energy into the PDP’s national leadership, and comes amid wide commentary that the party is placing renewed emphasis on mobilising young people across Nigeria.
Born in Kogi State, Dan Aji has been described by party sources as “a strong PDP loyalist” within the state – someone who has worked at grassroots level, committed to the party’s ideals and ready to serve at the national level. A number of party officials in Kogi privately noted that his selection reflects recognition of his years of service, discipline and visible resolve to build the youth wing of the PDP in his home state.
The congress held in Ibadan brought together delegates from across the six geopolitical zones, culminating in elections for several key national posts for the next term. While full details of the full slate of officers are yet to be publicly disclosed, the emergence of Dan Aji as Youth Leader underscores the PDP’s desire to broaden its appeal among younger Nigerians and to reinforce internal unity.
As National Youth Leader, Dan Aji inherits the responsibility of coordinating the youth structure of the party across Nigeria, mobilising young people for the party’s programme, and helping to shape the PDP’s youth-oriented agenda ahead of elections and other party engagements. Observers say his Kogi background will allow him to serve as a bridge between the North-Central region and the national youth leadership, potentially expanding the PDP’s reach in what remains a politically strategic zone.
For Kogi State in particular, his elevation is likely to be seen as a boost to the party’s youth apparatus and may encourage more young people in the state to engage more actively with the party. For the national PDP, it may strengthen the message that the party is serious about generational renewal and youth inclusion.
In a short statement after his election, Dan Aji thanked the delegates, pledged to honour the trust reposed in him, and called on all youth members of the PDP – irrespective of state or zone – to join hands with the leadership to rebuild the party’s fortunes. He emphasised that the youth must not be mere spectators but active participants in shaping both party policy and the broader destiny of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, party watchers will now be watching how Dan Aji delivers on his mandate, how he engages with the party’s national leadership, and how effectively he translates his Kogi-based loyalty and groundwork into a national youth mobilisation strategy for the PDP.
