…Afon leaders reject division, rally support for continuity
…Forum vows massive mobilisation for APC candidate
By Damola Thomas
The political atmosphere in Imeko-Afon State Constituency, Ogun State, received a major boost on Friday as stakeholders from Afon Town and Communities unanimously endorsed Hon. Jemili Adigun Akingbade for another term in the Ogun State House of Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement was contained in a detailed position paper jointly issued by traditional rulers, community leaders, political stakeholders, youth and women groups, as well as professional and socio-cultural associations across the constituency.
The forum declared Akingbade as the consensus candidate of Afon Town and Communities, insisting that his continued representation remained in the best interest of the constituency.
According to the statement read at a well attended meeting held in Afon by the Towns Secretary, Hon. Ogunrinola Samuel, the endorsement followed what he described as extensive consultations, political appraisal and strategic considerations among stakeholders within the local government.
The stakeholders maintained that the time had come for political actors within the constituency to openly identify with progressive leadership rather than engage in what they termed “backstage politics.”
“What is happening today is not by accident; it is the result of patience, calculation and strategic positioning,” the statement read.
The forum added, “This is no time for politics of whispers but of speaking loudly and clearly. No more backyard support. No more double standard politics. Those days are gone.”
The endorsement, according to the stakeholders, was made on behalf of over 750 villages and settlements within Imeko-Afon State Constituency, including over 270 Baales, High Chiefs, market leaders, artisans, religious leaders and political groups.
They stressed that their support for the lawmaker was based on “conviction, experience, performance and undeniable realities of impactful representation.”
Defending Akingbade’s aspiration for a fourth consecutive term, the stakeholders argued that his ambition should not be viewed through the lens of political envy or unnecessary criticism.
They insisted that the lawmaker had always emerged through democratic processes and had never been imposed on the people.
“At no point in his political journey has Hon. Akingbade been imposed on the people.
His emergence on all previous occasions was through the legitimate democratic process of the ballot box,” the statement noted.
The forum further argued that the Nigerian Constitution does not prohibit qualified legislators from seeking re-election multiple times, provided they enjoy the support of the electorate.
“No individual or group has the moral or constitutional authority to deny the people their right to choose whom they desire as their representative,” the stakeholders stated.
The group also highlighted Akingbade’s political journey, describing him as a grassroots politician whose career has spanned from councillorship to caretaker chairman and now a ranking member of the Ogun State House of Assembly.
Part of the statement praised the lawmaker’s role in the agitation and eventual creation of Afon Local Council Development Area (LCDA), describing the development as a landmark achievement for the people of Isokan axis.
“The people of Afon and the entire constituency still remember with deep nostalgia and gratitude his singular role in mobilizing support and advocating relentlessly for the creation of Afon LCDA,” the forum declared.
The stakeholders also listed several projects and interventions allegedly facilitated by the lawmaker across the constituency.
These, according to the statement, include borehole and potable water projects, road construction facilitation, youth and women empowerment schemes, educational support programmes and human capital development initiatives.
They further commended the legislator for what they described as his accessibility and responsiveness to constituents over the years.
“Hon. Akingbade has not merely occupied office; he has justified it with visible performance and uncommon dedication to the welfare of the people,” the statement added.
The stakeholders, however, appealed to opposition voices and aggrieved political actors within the All Progressives Congress and other political parties to embrace unity in the interest of development.
“This is not a time for division or bitterness. It is a time to consolidate on existing gains and allow a tested, trusted and experienced representative to complete the good works he has started,” they said.
The forum also used the opportunity to commend the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for what it described as mature and inclusive leadership in managing the political process within the state.
The stakeholders specifically praised the governor’s handling of consensus arrangements within the APC, especially the emergence of Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the party’s governorship flag bearer from Ogun West.
According to the statement, “The emergence of Yayi stands as a reflection of inclusiveness, equity and political wisdom capable of further strengthening the unity and progress of Ogun State.”
The forum declared that political leaders and stakeholders in Imeko-Afon Local Government had spoken “in unison” by presenting Akingbade as the consensus candidate for the 2027 House of Assembly election.
“There is no hiding, no coded loyalty and no sitting on the fence while pretending to belong elsewhere. Politics is about direction, courage and understanding where the future is heading,” the statement further noted.
The stakeholders concluded by assuring Governor Abiodun, Senator Adeola and Hon. Jemili Akingbade of massive electoral mobilisation and unwavering support ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We have the people, we have the structure and we have the number,” the group declared.
The position paper was signed by the Afon Town and Communities Stakeholders Forum on behalf of the traditional institution, council of Baales, community leaders, youth and women groups, clubs and associations, market men and women, religious leaders and residents of Afon Town and Communities.
