By Ade Oyeyemi
The senatorial candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement for Ondo Central in the 2027 general elections, Sunday Falae, has said dissatisfaction with the performance of the district’s current representative informed his decision to contest the seat.
Falae, a former member of the All Progressives Congress, said he was motivated by the need to provide effective representation, grassroots empowerment and improved security for residents of the six local government areas in the senatorial district.
Speaking in an interview, he claimed that his consultations across the district revealed widespread dissatisfaction among residents over the quality of representation they were receiving.
The APM candidate recalled his involvement in the election of the incumbent senator, disclosing that he served as Director-General of the lawmaker’s campaign in the federal constituency and provided financial and logistical support during the electioneering period.
He said his ambition was not driven by personal interests but by the desire to ensure that ordinary residents benefited from democracy through employment opportunities, empowerment programmes and development projects.
Explaining his decision to join the APM, Falae said several political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, had approached him before he settled for the platform.
He attributed his choice partly to his support for Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, whom he identified as the party’s presidential candidate, adding that he believed a Yoruba president should be allowed to complete eight years in office.
Falae described the political support for his ambition as a “Rainbow Coalition”, claiming that politicians from different parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, had indicated their willingness to work with him.
He further claimed that the PDP in Ondo Central had adopted him as its senatorial candidate, despite his decision to contest on the APM platform.
On his legislative agenda, Falae promised to establish functional constituency offices in each of the six local government areas, with at least one lawyer stationed at every office to attend to residents’ complaints and other concerns.
He said the offices would provide a direct channel through which constituents could seek assistance without having to contact him personally.
The candidate also pledged to introduce empowerment programmes based on the actual needs and occupations of beneficiaries, arguing that distributing items without considering recipients’ circumstances often defeats the purpose of such interventions.
He cited cases in which beneficiaries reportedly sold equipment received during empowerment programmes because the items were unsuitable for their needs or they could not afford to transport them home.
Falae recalled an instance involving a woman who allegedly sold a grinding machine at a giveaway price because she could not move it home. He also mentioned youths in Akure South who reportedly received hair dryers despite not operating hairdressing businesses.
He said such experiences informed his commitment to ensuring that empowerment initiatives were properly planned and targeted at people who could make productive use of the support.
On the electoral prospects of the APM, Falae expressed confidence that the party was gaining ground in the district, particularly in Akure South, Akure North and Ondo town.
He predicted that the party would become more popular across the constituency before the 2027 elections, dismissing concerns about its ability to compete with established political parties.
However, he admitted that he lacked the financial capacity to independently fund his campaign and appealed to individuals and supporters to contribute towards his ambition. He added that he had yet to receive financial assistance from anyone.
Addressing the issue of vote buying, Falae expressed optimism that financial inducements would not determine the outcome of the next general election, arguing that voters were increasingly willing to make choices based on their political convictions.
He also expressed confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission, saying the presence of credible party agents at polling units and proper monitoring of results during collation would help protect the integrity of the process.
On the economy, the APM candidate defended the removal of petrol subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, describing it as a necessary step towards addressing the country’s financial challenges.
Although he acknowledged the hardship faced by Nigerians, he argued that global economic developments had also contributed to the situation and that the Federal Government should not be held solely responsible.
He equally defended borrowing for critical infrastructure, saying the priority should be the purpose for which loans were obtained and how the funds were utilised.
However, Falae called on state governments and other tiers of government to account for the increased revenue accruing to them, alleging that development in some communities did not reflect the funds available to their administrations.
He specifically questioned the reported N760m allocation for the Owena-Alade-Idanre Road, claiming that work had yet to begin on the project despite the reported approval and payment.
On insecurity, he promised to make the protection of lives and property a major priority if elected, pledging to engage the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, the military and other security agencies to strengthen operations across the district.
Falae recalled the devastating impact of kidnapping on communities in Ondo Central, disclosing that he had personally intervened in some cases, including providing N1m assistance to a victim who later died.
He said the experience reinforced his determination to tackle kidnapping and other security threats, adding that he would work with the state government and security agencies to strengthen existing arrangements, including the deployment of Amotekun personnel in vulnerable communities.
Despite belonging to an opposition party, Falae promised to maintain a cordial relationship with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Federal Government to attract development projects to the district.
He argued that political differences should not prevent elected representatives from cooperating with other levels of government for the benefit of their constituents.
The senatorial hopeful said he would build relationships across party lines to attract roads, infrastructure and other government interventions to the six local government areas.
“I cannot afford to be on the outside looking in when I get there. I have to be on the inside,” he said, stressing the need for cooperation with political leaders and stakeholders to deliver development to the people.
