IBADAN, OYO STATE – Princess Oyeronke Akinlolu, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chairman in Oyo State and the party’s only female state chairman nationwide, has declared a quiet but lethal grassroots revolution, saying politics must put women and youths at the centre and not just treat them as voters.
In an exclusive conversation, Princess Akinlolu revealed that the NDC is building full-fledged structures across all 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State. “We are mobilizing and putting up structures in the 33 LGs of the state,” she said. “The challenge is not much – people have only lost interest in politics because of the situation in the country. Our job is to bring that interest back.”
She credited the NDC’s national leadership for creating space for women to lead, singling out His Excellency, Senator Seriake Dickson, the National Leader of the NDC, as a key advocate for female political inclusion. “Senator Seriake Dickson believes so much in women. He is ready to uplift women and our teeming and vibrant youths in politics, promoting them and supporting the affirmation of women and Youths to be allowed in politics and not just be spectators,” Princess Akinlolu stated.
While noting that support from the national leadership has been “to an extent,” she emphasized that the real work is happening at the grassroots under her leadership. She identified political apathy, not infighting or lack of funds, as the biggest obstacle facing parties today. “People have lost interest in politics because of the situation in the country,” she explained, adding that the NDC intends to present a fresh, credible alternative led by a woman who understands the struggles of ordinary families, market women, and unemployed youth.
Political observers say her emergence carries weight within the NDC and beyond. As the party’s only female state chairman nationwide, Princess Akinlolu’s leadership challenges entrenched barriers and signals a shift toward gender inclusion in party structures. With the 2027 general elections taking shape, the NDC’s decision to place a woman at the helm in Oyo State is being viewed as a potential blueprint for other states.
On next steps, Princess Akinlolu said the coming months will feature intensified grassroots sensitization, women-focused political summits across Oyo’s three senatorial districts, and direct engagement with disillusioned voters. “We are not just building a party – we are rebuilding trust in democracy, one local government at a time,” she said.
