Ondo State former Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi has joined the senatorial race to represent the state’s southern district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Also, a former member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, Ajayi declared his senatorial bid at a press conference in Akure where he spoke glowingly of his long political career that spans grassroots leadership to national politics.
He said his decision followed extensive consultations with key stakeholders, traditional rulers, party leaders, and the state leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
His words, “I have traversed the political landscape—from councillor, local government chairman, party secretary, to Deputy Governor and member of the National Assembly. I believe it is time to return and complete the unfinished projects I initiated for our people.”
He anchored his ambition on the agitation for zoning within Ondo South, arguing that his local government has yet to produce a senator in the current democratic dispensation.
Also, he maintained that political equity demands that the senatorial slot be ceded to his constituency in 2027.
“Out of the six local governments in Ondo South, mine is the only one that has not produced a senator. By all political calculations and fairness, it is our turn,” he stated.
On the exit of the current senator from the district, Jimoh Ibrahim, who is now Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations, from the race, Ajayi called for political maturity and continuity, suggesting that the existing arrangement should be respected.
He said that he had personally consulted with Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, dismissing claims of political rift between them.
“I met him one-on-one. He told me himself that I am the most qualified among those aspiring. We are not enemies; political differences do not make us adversaries,” Ajayi said.
He added that he is not interested in any impending by-election, stressing that his focus remains firmly on the 2027 general elections.
On concerns about internal divisions within the APC in Ondo State, Ajayi dismissed fears of imposition of candidates, insisting that the party has established democratic mechanisms.
“The party has guidelines—consensus where possible, and if not, primaries. No single individual can impose a candidate. That is not possible in Ondo State,” he said.
He also distanced himself from alleged APC factions, describing himself as a neutral stakeholder.
“I don’t belong to any group. I belong to the party and the people. At my level, I should be a unifying figure, not a factional politician,” he added.
Reacting to claims that former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may struggle to secure APC tickets, Ajayi dismissed the argument, emphasizing his political strength and grassroots appeal.
“My name is a household name in Ondo State. Politics is about individuals and popularity, not just party labels,” he said.
Ajayi stressed that the Senate requires experienced and competent lawmakers, warning against electing candidates without the necessary exposure.
“The Senate is not a place for trial and error. It requires people who understand governance, legislation, and national dynamics,” he noted.
Highlighting his past achievements, Ajayi claimed he outperformed many past representatives from the district, citing key infrastructure projects he facilitated.
Among them, he listed the installation of a 132KV electricity substation that improved power supply in Ondo South, as well as major road and bridge projects linking the region to neighbouring Delta State.
He lamented that many of the projects were abandoned after his tenure.
“I laid the foundation for major development projects, but they were not completed. That is why I want to return—to finish what I started,” he said.
Calling for Unity, Development, he concluded with a call for unity among political actors in Ondo State, warning that internal divisions have slowed development.
“We must stop unnecessary divisions and focus on moving Ondo State forward. Other states in the Southwest are ahead of us—we must close the gap,” he said.
With his declaration, the race for the Ondo South Senatorial seat in 2027 is expected to intensify, as political alignments and zoning debates begin to shape the contest.
He maintained that political equity demands that the senatorial slot be ceded to his local government in 2027 just as zoning arrangement foreclosed an Apoi person of the Ese-Odo to contest House of Assembly election.
He insisted that it is the turn of Arogbo people to produce the next House of Assembly member for the council area.
