The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Oyo Central, Engr. Ayobami Akinyode Olunloyo, has pledged to establish a searchable public register of constituency projects within six months of assuming office if elected in 2027, promising quarterly updates and annual accountability meetings across the district’s 11 local government areas.
Olunloyo made the pledge at a media parley with journalists on Sunday, where he unveiled his vision for what he described as transparent, accountable and people-centred representation.
He said the proposed register would provide information on projects, including their locations, responsible agencies, budget allocations, implementation status and supporting evidence, enabling constituents to monitor delivery and hold their representatives accountable.
“I do not want the people of Oyo Central simply to trust me. I want you to be able to check me,” he said.
The PDP candidate added that he would not treat constituency projects as political favours, insisting that public resources must deliver tangible benefits to residents.
“An appropriation is not a project. A release is not a project. A payment is not a project. A project is what the citizen can actually use, something that delivers tangible benefits in their day-to-day life,” he said.
Olunloyo said his experience visiting communities across the senatorial district had reinforced the need for development initiatives that responded to local realities, citing poor road access, water shortages and challenges facing rural communities.
He noted that Oyo Central comprises 11 local government areas with different development needs, arguing that effective representation must be informed by community-level engagement rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
According to him, his proposed agenda will focus on six areas: employment and livelihoods, education, food security, healthcare, safety and the preservation of the district’s heritage and future.
He also pledged to prioritise women and young people in identifying development needs and designing interventions, describing them as partners in development rather than merely beneficiaries of political programmes.
On the limits of legislative office, Olunloyo said a senator could not assume the responsibilities of a governor or local government chairperson but could use legislative powers, budget scrutiny, committee investigations and partnerships with relevant institutions to pursue development.
“A microphone in the Senate is not a bulldozer. A speech does not repair a road. A motion does not automatically put medicine in a clinic,” he said, stressing the need to monitor project implementation and report outcomes to constituents.
He promised regular engagement with residents, including annual public-account meetings across all 11 local government areas, and said he would disclose when projects stalled or fell outside his direct authority.
The candidate also urged voters to assess political aspirants on their preparation, ideas, record and capacity to deliver rather than promises made during election campaigns.
“The OLUNLOYO name may open a door. But it cannot do the work for me. That work is mine. The preparation is mine. The choices will be mine. The accountability must be mine,” he said.
He added: “I will show up to listen. I will act to deliver. I will build to last.”
Olunloyo said his ambition was driven by a desire to make governance improve everyday life, insisting that representation should remain visible and accountable throughout a senator’s tenure rather than end with election campaigns.
