2027: APC Stakeholders Reject Ajuloopin’s 4th-Term Senatorial Bid
* Urge ceding of slot to Oke-Ero LG for equity, fairness
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin and Oke-Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara State have rejected the fourth-term bid of the lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Tunji Olawuyi, popularly known as Ajuloopin.
The stakeholders have also kicked against alleged move of party leadership to replace Ajuloopin with Mrs Sumbo Oyeyemi, who hails from the Ekiti local government area of the federal constituency, saying it is the turn of Oke-Ero local government area to produce a candidate for the seat in the 2027 general elections.
They warned that any attempt by the party to impose either Ajuloopin or Oyeyemi as its House of Representatives candidate could trigger internal divisions, and ultimately cost the APC the federal constituency seat in the 2027 elections.
Speaking during a press briefing in Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun local government area, the Convener of the stakeholders forum, Mr. Olusegun Adewara, said the position of the stakeholders was anchored on the principles of equity, fairness and justice.
According to Adewara, it would be politically unjust for Irepodun local government area to continue producing both the Senator representing Kwara South and the member representing the Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin and Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He maintained that the House of Representatives ticket should, in the interest of fairness, be zoned to Oke-Ero local government area, which, he noted, has not produced a member of the Green Chamber since the return of democracy in 1999.
Adewara also dismissed reports that Ajuloopin had secured endorsement from the APC National Headquarters in Abuja, describing such an arrangement as an imposition and insisting that the lawmaker no longer enjoys the confidence and support of the people.
He accused Olawuyi of poor representation, lack of focus and inability to effectively champion the interests of the constituency at the National Assembly, alleging that his popularity has significantly declined.
“Ajuloopin is no longer popular. During the APC primary, he could not even win his own ward. It took the intervention of Baba Sofab for him to secure victory in Omu-Aran Ward 2, while he lost the remaining wards,” Adewara alleged.
He further claimed that the lawmaker had prioritised personal interests over public service, alleging that resources meant for the people had been diverted to projects that primarily benefited him rather than the constituency.
The stakeholders’ Convener also questioned Olawuyi’s legislative achievements, alleging that he had not sponsored any successful bill into law during his time in the National Assembly and had failed to attract meaningful development projects and employment opportunities to the constituency.
According to Adewara, while many lawmakers had facilitated employment for dozens of constituents, Ajuloopin had allegedly secured only one employment opportunity in over nine years in office, insisting that the constituency deserved “a representative with empathy, competence and genuine concern for the people.”
The forum equally opposed reports that Mrs. Sumbo Oyeyemi was being considered as a possible replacement for Ajuloopin, insisting that the constituency must produce what it described as “a bona fide son or daughter” of Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin and Oke-Ero Federal Constituency.
Adewara alleged that Oyeyemi is not an indigene of the constituency, claiming that her roots are in Ogun State and arguing that she lacks the historical, cultural and developmental understanding required to effectively represent the people.
“We are not against anyone personally, but we believe that whoever represents this constituency must have deep roots here and understand our peculiar challenges,” he said.
He further alleged that replacing Ajuloopin with someone the stakeholders do not consider an indigene would amount to denying the people of the constituency the opportunity to be represented by one of their own, warning that such a move could generate widespread resentment among party members.
The stakeholders also raised concerns over Oyeyemi’s eligibility to contest while allegedly remaining a staff member of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency. They claimed that, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines requiring public servants seeking elective office to resign before contesting, Oyeyemi has not resigned her appointment. The allegation has not been independently verified, and Oyeyemi had not publicly responded to the claim as of the time of filing this report.
Adewara called on both the national and state leadership of the APC to allow the party’s candidate for the constituency to emerge through a transparent, credible and inclusive process rather than through imposition.
He warned that presenting either Ajuloopin for a fourth term or imposing any candidate rejected by the grassroots could deepen divisions within the APC and hand a major advantage to opposition parties in the 2027 elections.
