With politics in Ondo South, there’s no time for sentiment. When seats open, calculations begin.
The vacancy emerged after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim received confirmation as an ambassador-designate. Within hours, Jumoke Akindele issued a formal notice of intent, signalling consultations toward contesting the senatorial seat under the All Progressives Congress.
Her declaration leaned heavily on continuity. She praised Ibrahim’s tenure, acknowledged party leadership, and framed her interest as protection of existing gains, recognising that Ondo South politics rewards stability when transitions appear orderly.
Akindele’s résumé carries weight. She served as Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly from 2015 to 2018, becoming the first woman to hold that position. Before then, she chaired the House Committee on Education and represented Okitipupa Constituency II.
Her roots also shape the arithmetic. Akindele hails from Okitipupa, the same local government area as the outgoing senator. Within district power-sharing norms, that coincidence strengthens her case for continuity rather than rotation.
Supporters emphasise gender representation. Because the Nigerian Senate remains overwhelmingly male, advocates argue that Ondo State could set a regional marker by sending a woman with proven legislative experience to the upper chamber.
Party alignment works in her favour, too. Akindele operates firmly within the APC structure and publicly aligns with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s leadership and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
However, there are still some challenges. Other aspirants eye the seat, some from different local governments, others questioning whether continuity should override broader inclusion. Primaries rarely respect consensus once ambition enters the room.
Gender bias also lingers. Nigerian politics still tests female candidates more harshly, especially in Senate races that demand resources, alliances, and endurance across sprawling districts.
Akindele’s chances rest on three levers: party endorsement, local unity, and turnout discipline. She brings experience, symbolism, and geography. The question is whether those assets convert into votes when consultations harden into ballots.
Ondo South voters will soon decide if continuity feels safe or stale. The declaration opened the door. The contest will decide who walks through it.
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