Ondo South: 9 Jostle To Succeed Jimoh Ibrahim In Saturday’s By-Election

Political activities in Ondo State are beginning to gather momentum as key players across different political parties intensify consultations and strategic moves ahead of the June 20 bye-election for the Ondo South Senatorial District.

The seat became vacant after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, creating a fresh battle for political influence in the district.

The array of aspirants, particularly in the APC vying for the party’s tickets are not leaving anything to chance, as they have commenced consultations in the hope to fly the party’s flag for the forthcoming exercise and anticipating that the pie will probably fall their way.

They include Barrister Morayo Lebi, former APC senatorial aspirant; Mayowa Akinfolarin, ex-House of Representatives member; Mathew Oye Oyerinmade (MATO) and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Oladunni Odu.

Others are: Agboola Ajayi, former Deputy Governor; Jumoke Akindele,(Former Ondo Speaker) Boye Oyewumi, Diran Iyantan, Otunba Kayode Fakuyi among several others.

The Ondo South Senatorial District spans Okitipupa, Irele, Ese Odo, Odigbo, Ilaje, and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo . Historically, the zone plays a decisive role in shaping the state’s political direction.

Sources say some leaders from the district are already insisting that Senator Ibrahim’s replacement must come from within the existing party structure while others argue that the contest should be thrown open for broader participation.

The argument, according to Senator Ibrahim’s loyalists, is that, the federal lawmaker or at least his political machinery should have considerable influence in choosing his replacement for the seat even as many of them insist that continuity is essential for ongoing constituency projects and political stability.

Intra- party rivalry

However, the development has rekindled intra-party rivalries within the APC, particularly between the camps loyal to Senator Ibrahim, those aligned with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, federal-level stakeholders including the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and moneybags politicians, seeking to assert influence and support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order to have a share of political positions ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to insiders, the supporters of Governor Aiyedatiwa are already seeing the upcoming by-election as an opportunity to consolidate his influence within the district as he positions himself ahead of the 2027 cycle, mostly in rallying support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Opposition parties smell opportunity

Amidst the control of power and political bickering, the opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congres (ADC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are reportedly weighing the option as they hope to capitalize on any cracks within the ruling APC for the Senate seat.

The PDP, which once dominated Ondo South, is now smelling opportunity as the timing presents an opening. Although the party is yet to regain its old statewide strength.

Party sources told Daily Trust that the expected by-election is being treated as a strategic opening to test the APC’s grassroots strength and exploit internal divisions.

As the political parties are reviewing their internal strategies. The party chieftains and stakeholders are also weighing zoning considerations, electoral strength, and the prevailing mood of the electorates as they map out pathways to securing the seat ahead of the bye-election exercise.

The fierce battle over zoning for the vacant seat is fast becoming one of the defining politics ahead of the June 20 bye-election. The crisis followed the exit of Senator Ibrahim from Okitipupa axis of the Ondo South and at the centre of the dispute is whether the senatorial ticket, particularly within the APC should now be zoned to the Ilaje/Ese-Odo axis or thrown open to all aspirants across the district.

At the heat of the debate, the Ilaje/Ese-Odo camp had argued that ‘equity’ favours the riverine axis. Supporters of zoning insisted that the area deserves consideration because Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa hails from the zone and influential stakeholders believed retaining the seat there would strengthen political balance and consolidate the governor’s influence in the district.

The push for zoning to Ese-Odo LGA has also triggered fierce resistance from aspirants and stakeholders from Okitipupa/Irele and Odigbo/Ileoluji-Okeigbo federal constituencies. Many opponents describe the move as an attempt at political imposition designed to favour the governor’s home axis. They argue that competence, popularity and grassroots support not geography should determine who gets the ticket.

Reacting, the former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt (Hon.) Jumoke Akindele, agreed that there is a hot debate about zoning.

Akindele, who spoke to Daily Trust in an interview, added that the people are not unmindful of the fact that even though zoning is not recognised by the constitution, conventions have guided political decisions over time.

“Yes, Ondo South has been represented by almost all the local governments except Ese-Odo, and we cannot shy away from that fact. But we must also consider present realities. I’m from Okitipupa LGA, and we have been represented at least once, but the problem is, the governor is from Ilaje LGA, which shares a federal constituency with Ese-Odo,” she said.

Meanwhile, the anti-zoning bloc has pointed to what they call an existing imbalance in appointments and representation. Some party figures from Odigbo have argued their area has long been politically marginalised and deserves the opportunity to produce the senator.

An APC chieftain Olorunnimbe Tawose had recently argued that Odigbo remains one of the few councils in the district without significant federal representation, making a strong case for power shift.

Beyond the APC, the zoning debate is also shaping calculations in opposition parties. Political observers believe the eventual handling of the zoning controversy could determine whether the ruling party enters the election united or divided.

The issue of consensus candidacy for the bye-election has also emerged as a major source of contention in the battle for the Ondo South Senatorial District seat with some aspirants alleging imposition and lack of internal democracy.

Sources within the party said the debate revolves around whether to field seasoned politicians with established structures or fresh faces perceived as more acceptable to younger voters.

Our correspondent highlights the chances of notable contenders:

Barrister Morayo Lebi

Lebi is a distinguished figure in the APC in Ondo state, who had established himself as a visionary leader with a career spanning over three decades, having introduced the party to the Southern part of the state. He contested for various offices, including the Ondo South Senatorial seat in 2015, although he lost the exercise. He also contested the 2024 governorship election exercise.

Lebi’s commitment to the party’s ideals is evident in his philanthropic efforts, including an N5 million contribution to support the rebuilding of the APC’s state secretariat, which was destroyed during the ENDSARS protest.

Mathew Oye Oyerinmade (MATO)

Oyerinmade, popularly known as MATO, is also a chieftain of the APC and renowned businessman. He contested the race for the Ondo South Senatorial Seat in 2023. Oyerinmade is also known as a quiet philanthropist who has contributed consistently and immensely to poverty alleviation, empowerment, and community development in different parts of Ondo State.

He also contributed to development of the party both at the state level and the grassroots, carrying out mobilisation for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

 Mayowa Akinfolarin

Akinfolarin is a former legislator and member of the Ondo State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2011, where he rose to the position of a deputy speaker and was also a member of the l House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023 for Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo constituency.

Akinfolarin further re-contested the seat and again won under the APC in 2019, becoming the only APC candidate that won the National Assembly election in Ondo South Senatorial District. Among other several positions, he held the position of the chairman House Committee on Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) of the 9th National Assembly.

A close ally of the interior minister, Tunji-Ojo, Akinfolarin is the favorite of the Abuja power bloc and has begun intense consultations, especially from the national leadership of the APC using his political influence as a former federal lawmaker.

 Jumoke Akindele

Akindele was the first female speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly. She is also a lawyer and very rugged. She contested the seat of the constituency, Okitipupa constituency II, but lost to the opposition party. She re-contested on 11 April 2011 and was elect a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, where she served as Chairman of House Committee on Education before she was elected Speaker of the Assembly.

On May 27, 2015, she was elected Speaker of the Assembly following the demise of the former speaker Samuel Adesina. She relinquished the leadership position of the house in a resignation letter dated 20 March 2018.

Boye Oyewumi

Oyewumi is a businessman and season politician. He is a former governorship aspirant under the platform of the ruling APC. He is from Oke-Igbo in Ile-Oluji. Oyewumi carries with him a legacy of discipline, public service, and community loyalty. He is also jostling for the race to take over from Jimoh Ibrahim.

Oyewumi’s political consciousness was awakened early. As a young activist in the 1990s, he joined the historic Hope ’93 presidential campaign of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, standing firmly on the side of democratic values. He later aligned with the NADECO movement, lending his voice to Nigeria’s struggle for the restoration of democracy. (Daily trust)