The Ifo Progressive Indigenes Forum (IPIF) in Ogun State has demanded that the All Progressives Congress, APC, zone its House of Representatives ticket for the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency to the LG in the 2027 general elections, citing what it described as long-standing imbalance in representation.
This was contained a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Thursday by the group’s Chairman, Abdul Oladosu, and Secretary, Kehinde Egbeyemi.
According to the forum, the release of the 2027 election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission has reopened what it called a fundamental moral question within the constituency.
The group argued that democracy is sustained not merely by elections but by fairness that citizens can both see and experience, stressing that political representation in a constituency shared by two local governments should rotate.
IPIF said the demand for zoning the ticket to Ifo had been consistently raised by party faithful since the last election cycle and was now being echoed by new members joining the party.
To strengthen its argument, the forum cited voting statistics from recent elections, saying the figures demonstrate Ifo’s electoral strength within the constituency, maintaining that they delivered 20,653 votes for the party in the last gubernatorial election, while Ewekoro LG recorded 20,415 accredited voters and 8,192 votes.
The forum added that in the 2023 presidential election, Ifo produced 26,507 votes compared to Ewekoro’s 9,778.
“And in the arithmetic of Ifo/Ewekoro, the numbers speak with unmistakable clarity. Beyond electoral returns lies structural reality,” the group said.
They also highlighted a historical imbalance in representation since the creation of the constituency in 1999, stressing that politicians from Ewekoro, including former representative Bamidele Obadina and the current lawmaker, Ibrahim Isiaka, have together held the seat for more than 20 years.
“Since the creation of the constituency in 1999, representation has largely favored Ewekoro. Bamidele Obadina and the incumbent Ibrahim Isiaka, both from Ewekoro, have together enjoyed over twenty years of representation.
“By contrast, Ifo has had only two opportunities: Abayomi Collins (1999-2007) and Adekunle Adeyemi (2011-2015). In nearly three decades, Ifo has produced representatives for approximately twelve years, while Ewekoro has occupied the seat for over sixteen.
“This is not a sentimental grievance; it is a measurable imbalance. Such lopsidedness, if left unaddressed, gradually weakens party unity and undermines the foundational democratic principle that loyalty and contribution must find equitable reward,” the group said.
While acknowledging the contributions of the incumbent lawmaker, the group insisted that fairness requires political inclusion and opportunity for other parts of the constituency and urged the APC to “let fairness prevail and allow representation rotate to Ifo in 2027.”
Meanwhile, the forum praised the Tinubu-led administration for its inclusive governance and Dapo Abiodun for infrastructural development in the area, noting that several road projects have significantly improved connectivity and economic activities in Ifo and its surrounding communities.
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