In a move to uphold fairness and justice, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Usman Ododo, through the commissioner for youth and sport Devpt Hon,Aridaojo Monday Anyebe has suspended the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) convention,

originally scheduled for March 20, 2025.

This decision comes after a petition was filed by Ojo Amos Oloruntobi, Aspirant Coordinator for NYCN Ijumu Chapter, and other concerned youths, alleging serial extortion and manipulation by certain stakeholders within the NYCN Kogi West chapter.

At the center of the allegations are Hon. Dele Nihin, Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Matters, and Comr. Israel Alonge, both of whom are Ijumu indigenes and former NYCN Kogi State chairmen. They are accused of orchestrating extortion schemes, which have tainted the credibility of the NYCN process.

According to Oloruntobi, he paid ₦50,000 for his nomination form but was not given the form. Instead, he was pressured to secure a sponsorship of ₦1 million to secure his candidacy, despite the Chairman of Ijumu LGA having already covered the cost of all forms for a consensus candidate.

The situation took a violent turn when some political officeholders who had been extorted retaliated by mobilizing youths, leading to an attack that left Israel Alonge severely beaten. This incident has cast a negative image on the youth of Ijumu LGA, and their actions have been widely condemned.

The petitioners are calling on the Kogi State Government and relevant security agencies to take immediate action to put an end to the extortion and manipulation within the NYCN Kogi West chapter. They are demanding that every aspirant be given a fair opportunity to contest for their desired position, in line with established rotational agreements across various LGAs in Kogi West.