By the current structuring of political power in Ondo State, the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the southern senatorial district is the most influential bloc. It is the constituency of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and by that singular fact alone, it already occupies a commanding position in the state’s political hierarchy.
Aside from the governorship, which is the highest political office in the state, the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency is also enjoying a concentration of high-profile political appointments and elective positions. These include an ambassadorial slot, the chairmanship of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), and the influential office of APC South-West Vice Chairman.
The list is endless as the federal constituency occupies the position of the Ondo State Representative on the NDDC Governing Board as well as the full time Federal Commissioner representing Ondo State in the Federal Character Commission.
Therefore, idea that the same federal constituency should also produce the next senator for Ondo South will only create further political imbalance. Politics, particularly within a diverse senatorial district, demands a careful balancing of interests. Concentrating such weighty positions in one axis risks upsetting that balance.
It is, therefore, difficult to ignore the political implications of such a move. Allowing Ilaje/Ese-Odo to produce both the governor and the senator would inevitably come at the expense of other local governments within the district, particularly Odigbo, which has neither federal appointments nor national elective representation despite its longstanding loyalty to progressive politics.
The fact that Governor Aiyedatiwa is insisting on Dr. Isaac Kekemeke, an indigene of Ese-Odo Local Government and a holder of multiple political offices, as the consensus candidate is the reason many of us are asking whether Aiyedatiwa’s political strategy is truly aimed at securing President Tinubu’s victory in the state.
Can the governor claim that he is unaware that the man he picked as the Ondo South APC senatorial consensus candidate is still serving as the Chairman of NIPOST and APC South-West Vice Chairman?
Ondo South is the second-largest voting bloc in the state. Decisions that create a sense of exclusion or marginalisation within this zone could have ripple effects beyond the senatorial contest.
Other political parties like the ADC, PDP, and NDC are keen observers of these developments. A perceived imbalance in the APC’s internal arrangement could provide them with an opening to pick candidates from aggrieved local governments, especially those that feel sidelined. Such a scenario could fragment the traditional voting base of the progressives.
This development could have implications for the 2027 presidential election. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depend on strong and united support from key states like Ondo. Any internal disaffection within the APC in Ondo South could translate into reduced voter enthusiasm or even protest voting against the party.
If Governor Aiyedatiwa is indeed committed to delivering one million votes for the President, as he always claims, then political decisions at the senatorial level must reflect inclusivity and strategic foresight. Ignoring a loyal stronghold like Odigbo, which currently lacks federal representation, could prove counterproductive.
Comrade Jamil Adetunji
Ajue, Odigbo LG, Ondo State
