Ekiti group calls for Kwara APC House of Representatives nomination after nearly three decades

A group of stakeholders from the Ekiti bloc of the Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin and Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara State is urging the All Progressives Congress leadership to let their zone produce the party's candidate for the House of Representatives seat in the 2027 general elections.

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This plea is based on the principles of justice, fairness, and equity, as the bloc has not had a representative since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, according to the Concerned Aspirants and Stakeholders, Ekiti Bloc.

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In a letter to President Bola Tinubu, the National Working Committee of the APC, and the Kwara State chapter of the party, the stakeholders expressed concerns about being sidelined despite an existing unwritten rotational arrangement within the constituency.

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The constituency is made up of four local government areas - Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin, and Oke-Ero - which are traditionally divided into two blocs: the Igbomina bloc and the Ekiti bloc.

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Since 1999, all representatives have come from the Igbomina bloc, including Bola Oni Bashir, Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Akeem Olayinka Aiyedun, the late Funke Adedoyin, and the current lawmaker, Abdulraheem Olawuyi, leaving the Ekiti bloc marginalized for about 27 years.

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The stakeholders argue that this dominance contradicts the APC's principle of inclusion and quote President Tinubu's "Emi Lokan" declaration, saying "Awa Lokan" to emphasize that it is now the Ekiti bloc's turn to produce a representative.

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The group stated that they can no longer remain silent while the rotational arrangement is being undermined, and they expressed concerns over a "unity list" that allegedly favors the incumbent lawmaker, Olawuyi.

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This development has heightened fears that certain interests are attempting to impose a predetermined outcome on the party, which the stakeholders say breaches the rotational understanding and contradicts the "Emi Lokan" principle.

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The aspirants warned that if their concerns are not addressed, it could lead to resentment among party loyalists and weaken the APC's electoral strength in the constituency, with many supporters threatening protest votes.

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The Ekiti bloc has consistently supported the APC and contributed to the party's electoral victories in Kwara State, and the stakeholders are appealing to the party leadership to reconsider any arrangement that undermines the rotational understanding.

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The group emphasized that their appeal is not a rebellion against the APC, but a sincere call for political inclusion and fairness, and they stressed that history, justice, fairness, equity, and political morality are all on the side of the Ekiti bloc.

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The stakeholders' primary concern is ensuring that the Ekiti bloc is finally given the opportunity to produce a representative after nearly three decades, even if only one aspirant from the bloc emerges as the candidate.