Ondo APC House of Representatives hopeful hits back at detractors over claims of lacking local backing

Simi Fajemirokun-Ajayi, an All Progressives Congress aspirant for the Ile-Oluji Oke-Igbo Odigbo Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, has rejected claims that she lacks sufficient grassroots support to win the general elections, citing her extensive community engagement and empowerment initiatives as evidence of her strong connection to the constituency.

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Fajemirokun-Ajayi has consistently maintained close contact with residents through various programmes, including youth and women empowerment initiatives, educational support schemes, and stakeholder engagements across the constituency, which she believes demonstrates her deep understanding of the community's needs.

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The outcome of the APC primary, according to Fajemirokun-Ajayi, reflects the mood at the grassroots, with delegates and party structures involved in the process representing the same mobilisation base used during general elections, and her support during the primary election was built on trust, relationships, and sustained involvement in community development activities.

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Fajemirokun-Ajayi's strength, she claims, lies with ordinary party members and grassroots supporters, rather than political heavyweights and godfathers, as some aspirants have suggested, and she believes this grassroots support will be crucial in the general elections.

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Addressing recent media attention surrounding her past advocacy against alleged workplace harassment, Fajemirokun-Ajayi emphasized that women should not be punished for speaking out against misconduct, and she expressed appreciation to women groups, youth organisations, religious bodies, and other stakeholders in the constituency for their support.

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The controversy surrounding the APC House of Representatives primary election in Ondo State has been dismissed by Fajemirokun-Ajayi, who said results collated by her supporters and agents showed strong grassroots backing for her aspiration, and she added that transparency remains critical to strengthening democracy and public trust.

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Women in Nigeria, according to Fajemirokun-Ajayi, continue to face significant barriers in politics, including structural, cultural, and financial obstacles, as well as intimidation, exclusion from decision-making processes, and online harassment, and she believes that women seeking elective positions are often subjected to different standards from their male counterparts.

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Fajemirokun-Ajayi stated that her "godfathers" are the people on the streets, the grassroots, party executives, and members who went door-to-door to mobilise votes, and she emphasized that she focuses on her own race, rather than worrying about the support other aspirants may have from governors or ministers.

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She expressed confidence in the democratic process and hoped that the will of party members will ultimately be respected, and she noted that Nigeria cannot genuinely develop while excluding half of its talent pool from political participation, and that silence protects and enables abuse, while accountability protects institutions.

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As a former Senior Special Assistant on Strategy, Investment and Partnership to former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Fajemirokun-Ajayi's ambition is driven by a desire for service, representation, and inclusive governance, and she has identified key priorities, including youth empowerment, women inclusion, education, entrepreneurship, and strengthening local economic opportunities, if elected into the National Assembly.

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As the founder of Read2Succeed Africa, Fajemirokun-Ajayi believes that politics should focus on addressing the everyday concerns of Nigerians, including jobs, education, security, and economic opportunities, and she called on political leaders to uphold fairness, accountability, and greater inclusion of women in governance.

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Fajemirokun-Ajayi said that this moment is bigger than her, and it is about the future of inclusive politics in Nigeria and whether capable women can participate without intimidation, and she remains committed to her vision of a more inclusive and equitable political system.