Kwara politics: The bye-election to watch

The bye-elections into the Oke-Ero/Isin/Ekiti/Irepodun Federal Constituency of Kwara State on Saturday can be aptly described as the beginning of the end of the Saraki-led political dynasty now widely despised as a dictatorial oppressor that the people of the state must be liberated from in the 2019 elections. This scenario is clearly captured by the […]

The bye-elections into the Oke-Ero/Isin/Ekiti/Irepodun Federal Constituency of Kwara State on Saturday can be aptly described as the beginning of the end of the Saraki-led political dynasty now widely despised as a dictatorial oppressor that the people of the state must be liberated from in the 2019 elections.

This scenario is clearly captured by the two leading contenders in the elections, the APC’s Abdulraheem Tunji Olawuyi (Ajulo) and PDP’s Saheed Alatise, Without the slightest hesitation anyone you ask in the constituency about the political prospects of the two, the infectious popularity of the APC’s candidate is the reference point as well as the best bet from the street polls.

This popularity has its origins in the charisma and fabled generosity of “Ajulo”, as he is nicknamed and sustained by his business acumen long before he converted it to political capital with impact, especially in Omu Aran, the town with the vote-swinging clout. Since he joined party politics in 2011, Ajulo came second in the House of Assembly race as a candidate of the ACN and steadfastly strengthened his political prowess and following without straying away in defection mode. It is no wonder therefore that he is the candidate of the APC in the 2019 House of Representatives ballot in the area. This is a case of Abdulraheem Tunji Olawuyi (Ajulo) being the onkly man standing as far as the politics of this area goes. Add the huge groundswell of APC enthronement since 2015 to this potent political machine and you get the unmistakable picture of an imminent crowning glory for Ajulo as the man of the people in the Oke-Ero/Isin/Ekiti/Irepodun Federal Constituency.

As if this is not sufficiently indicative of a looming landslide, both Ajulo and the APC have the additional advantage of riding on the rising wave of liberation politics sweeping the lengths and breadth of Kwara State focused on the overthrow of the Saraki cabal that has dominated the state for decades, now internally displaced into the PDP. All this spells nothing short of a historic game-changing outcome of the bye-elections.

Abdulganiyu Akande, Omu Aran, Kwara State.