Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State have thrown their weight behind Hon. Akinjide Kazeem Akinola, calling for a rotational shift in representation within the Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement came on Saturday during a well-attended APC stakeholders’ meeting in Ona-Ara, where party leaders and supporters emphasised unity, equity, and grassroots mobilisation as key to electoral victory.
Speaking at the gathering, Akinola described the meeting as a demonstration of the party’s strength and loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting the large turnout as evidence of growing support within the constituency.
He stressed the importance of integrity in leadership and adherence to existing zoning arrangements, arguing that fairness demands that Ona-Ara be given the opportunity to produce the next federal representative.
“Egbeda has been there for many years, while Ona-Ara has been there for just two tenures. It is only fair and just that representation returns to Ona-Ara,” Akinola said.
He further highlighted his track record of community interventions, including the installation of solar lights, empowerment programmes for youths and women, and financial support for over 300 families to aid children’s return to school.
“We have done a lot, but we are prepared to do more. We cannot go there to repeat the same things; we will bring new ideas and better representation,” he added.
Akinola also urged party members to prioritise the success of the APC above individual ambitions, calling on supporters to return to their polling units and work for the party’s victory in future elections.
Also speaking, a former LCDA chairman from Egbeda, Hon. Adeyinka Adeyemi, who attended as a special guest, backed the call for power rotation, insisting that equity must guide political representation in the constituency.
“Egbeda has spent close to 20 years in representation, while Ona-Ara has had about eight years. There should be fairness and even distribution of political offices. That is why I support Ona-Ara producing the next candidate,” he said.
Adeyemi urged party members in Ona-Ara to remain united and support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate, expressing confidence that the APC would secure victory across all levels in the 2027 elections.
He, however, noted that while the current representative has performed fairly in some areas, more could be done, particularly in facilitating employment opportunities for constituents.
In the same vein, Hon. Lanre Adesina Saheed, coordinator for Akinola’s 2027 ambition, described the aspirant as a grassroots politician with a strong record of philanthropy and community service.
According to him, Akinola’s initiatives, ranging from borehole projects to free educational support such as JAMB forms and tutorials demonstrate his commitment to the welfare of the people even before holding elective office.
He added that the growing support across both Egbeda and Ona-Ara signals strong prospects for Akinola’s candidacy.
