Ifo Progressive Indigene Forum Demands Zoning Of Federal Constituency Seat Back To Ifo
ABEOKUTA – The Ifo Progressive Indigenes Forum (IPIF) has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone its House of Representatives ticket for the Ifo/Ewekoro (Ewekoro) Federal Constituency to Ifo Local Government Area in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by the group’s Chairman, Abdul Oladosu, and Secretary, Kehinde Egbeyemi, IPIF argued that the demand is based on a long-standing imbalance in representation, citing voting statistics and structural realities.
The forum noted that Ifo has 448 polling units across 11 wards, compared to Ewekoro’s 188 polling units across 10 wards, and has consistently produced more votes in recent elections.
IPIF also highlighted the historical imbalance in representation, saying politicians from Ewekoro have held the seat for over 20 years, while Ifo has produced representatives for only 12 years.
The group commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance and national renewal, as well as Governor Dapo Abiodun’s infrastructural development in the area.
IPIF urged the APC to allow representation to rotate to Ifo in 2027, saying “fairness requires political inclusion and opportunity for other parts of the constituency.”
“And in the arithmetic of Ifo/Ewekoro, the numbers speak with unmistakable clarity. Beyond electoral returns lies structural reality,” the group said.
The forum equally pointed to “structural realities”, noting that Ifo has 448 polling units across 11 wards, compared to Ewekoro’s 188 polling units across 10 wards.
“Where strength is structural and sacrifice demonstrable, acknowledgment should not be negotiable,” the group said.
The group also highlighted what it described as a historical imbalance in representation since the creation of the constituency in 1999.
It noted that politicians from Ewekoro, including former representative Hon Bamidele Obadina and the current lawmaker, Hon Ibrahim Isiaka, have together held the seat for more than 20 years.
By contrast, the group said Ifo had produced only two representatives, Hon Abayomi Collins from 1999 to 2007 and Hon Adekunle Adeyemi from 2011 to 2015, amounting to roughly 12 years of representation.
“Since the creation of the constituency in 1999, representation has largely favored Ewekoro. Bamidele Obadina and the incumbent Ibrahim Isiaka, both from Ewekoro, have together enjoyed over twenty years of representation.
“By contrast, Ifo has had only two opportunities: Abayomi Collins (1999-2007) and Adekunle Adeyemi (2011-2015). In nearly three decades, Ifo has produced representatives for approximately twelve years, while Ewekoro has occupied the seat for over sixteen.
“This is not a sentimental grievance; it is a measurable imbalance. Such lopsidedness, if left unaddressed, gradually weakens party unity and undermines the foundational democratic principle that loyalty and contribution must find equitable reward,” the group said.
While acknowledging the contributions of the incumbent lawmaker, the group insisted that fairness requires political inclusion and opportunity for other parts of the constituency.
“A twin constituency cannot function as a genuine democratic partnership if one half perpetually carries electoral weight while the other retains uninterrupted advantage,” the forum said.
The constituents urged the APC to “let fairness prevail and allow representation rotate to Ifo in 2027.”
The group, however, commended the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for what it described as a commitment to inclusive governance and national renewal.
According to the forum, Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda has inspired confidence among party faithful and grassroots supporters across the constituency.
The forum also praised the administration of Dapo Abiodun for infrastructural development in the area, noting that several road projects have significantly improved connectivity and economic activities in Ifo and its surrounding communities.
Among the projects listed were the Akute–Ajuwon–Alagbole Road, Alhaji Kosoko Road linking Denro, Ishasi and Akute, Segun Osoba Road, Toyin Street, Yakoyo–Alagbole Road, the Hercules–Oke Aro–Giwa corridor and
Vespa-Olose Titun-Ikorota Meje Road.
END
