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An amalgamated group of stakeholders from the Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Isin and Irepodun Federal Constituency has dismissed claims that the emergence of the member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulraheem Tunji Olawuyi (Ajuloopin), as a candidate for re-election violates any existing rotational arrangement between the Igbomina and Ekiti ethnic groups.
The group was reacting to petitions and media statements reportedly issued by Hon. Gabriel Ganiyu Abolarin, who alleged that the decision to field Olawuyi for another term breached an agreed power-sharing arrangement within the constituency.
In a statement, the stakeholders maintained that no formal or informal agreement on rotational representation exists between the two ethnic groups. They argued that the Igbomina and Ekiti people have coexisted harmoniously over the years and questioned the basis of the alleged arrangement.
According to the group, there is no documented evidence or publicly acknowledged gentleman’s agreement to support the claim of rotational representation. It challenged proponents of the allegation to produce any signed document or credible proof of such an agreement.
The stakeholders also faulted Abolarin’s appeal to equity and fairness, noting that he previously served as a Personal Assistant to former Senator Simeon Suleman Ajibola, who represented Kwara South Senatorial District for 12 consecutive years. They argued that this background weakens his criticism of Olawuyi’s re-election bid.
The statement further credited Olawuyi and the people of Omu-Aran with helping the All Progressives Congress (APC) strengthen its political presence in Kwara State during the 2018 by-election.
The group also rejected voter figures reportedly presented by Abolarin, describing them as inaccurate and inconsistent with the constituency’s registered voter population, APC membership and electoral strength. It maintained that Olawuyi’s previous electoral victories and popularity position him strongly for another election.
The stakeholders called on residents of the constituency to support Olawuyi’s bid for another term in the House of Representatives, expressing confidence that his experience and political influence would attract more developmental projects and dividends of democracy to the constituency.
They added that retaining Olawuyi on the APC’s 2027 ballot would enhance the party’s chances of victory in the federal constituency.
