Group kicks against zoning Ondo South senatorial slot to governor’s constituency

The APC Legacy Aboriginal Forum (ALAF), a group within the All Progressives Congress, has opposed moves to zone the Ondo South senatorial slot to the constituency of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Akure, ALAF cautioned against allowing the senatorial slot to be retained within Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency, where the governor hails from. It argued that such a move could undermine fairness and marginalise other areas within the district.

The development comes as the contest to fill the vacant seat intensifies following the impending exit of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim from the National Assembly.

Ibrahim is expected to resign from the Senate after his confirmation as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Bola Tinubu.

“If the senator has been appointed as an envoy, another local government can be considered, but not the governor’s federal constituency because this means one federal constituency will have the number one position in the state as well as the number one position in the senatorial district,” the statement read.

Several aspirants have already indicated interest in the seat, including former House of Representatives member Morayo Lebi from Irele/Okitipupa, as well as Mayo Akinfolarin, Mathew Oyerinmade and Boye Oyewunmi from Odigbo/Ileoluji/Okeigbo federal constituency.

Other contenders are former deputy governor and PDP governorship candidate Agboola Ajayi and APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Isaac Kekemeke, both from Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency.

The group warned that concentrating both the governorship and senatorial representation in one federal constituency could create imbalance and erode political confidence among other local governments.