Gbenga Awoyale, President of Orisun Igbomina, has urged the All Progressives Congress in Kwara South Senatorial District to reject automatic tickets for serving lawmakers ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a statement released on Friday, he emphasized that democracy requires competition, accountability, and the free choice of party members. Awoyale stated that no elected official should be entitled to a second term without undergoing the party's nomination process. He warned that perceptions of political influence securing automatic returns could harm party unity and discourage aspiring candidates.
Awoyale insisted all aspirants, whether incumbents or new entrants, must earn delegates' trust through performance, consultation, and political engagement. "Democracy is not hereditary, neither is representation a personal entitlement," he said. He pointed to historical imbalances in representation, noting the Ibolo and Ekiti axes have held the Kwara South Senate seat for extended periods, while the Igbomina bloc had only brief representation through Makanjuola Ajadi.
He called for equity, inclusion, and political balancing in 2027, citing several capable Igbomina sons across local governments. Awoyale stressed that incumbency should not override performance, urging constituents to assess lawmakers' records on legislative impact, oversight, and constituency development. He appealed to APC leadership in Kwara State to ensure a transparent and level playing field, warning that preferential treatment could fuel internal discontent.
Gbenga Awoyale demands fairness in APC primaries while representing a bloc that has had only one brief turn at the Kwara South Senate seat. The push for Igbomina representation in 2027 gains weight given the region's limited access to the Senate compared to Ibolo and Ekiti. If the APC imposes an incumbent or non-Igbomina candidate, it risks validating claims of regional exclusion. Awoyale's call for merit and process may be less about principle and more about creating space for his axis to finally hold the seat.
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