The Kwara South Unity Group (KSUG) has intensified its push for the Igbomina bloc to produce the next Senator for the district in 2027, with the group advocating for the candidacy of Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun.
The campaign, which the group has dubbed the “Igbomina Lokan” (It’s Igbomina’s Turn) agenda, is based on a rotational arrangement aimed at ensuring fairness and equity among the three major political blocs of the senatorial district.
Continuing its consultative tour, the KSUG delegation, led by former Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Adebayo Jimoh Alao, visited the palace of the Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Solomon Olugbenga Oloyede, on Thursday.
This visit followed a similar consultation held with the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Bolaji Yahaya Muhammed Atoloye Alebiosu, on Saturday.
Speaking at the Olusin’s palace, Hon. Alao explained the rationale behind the movement.
Our senatorial district consists of three blocs: Ekiti, Igbomina, and Ibolo, he stated.
Ekiti has had a representative for 12 years with Senator Simon Ajibola. Our Ibolo bloc is also about to complete 12 years with Senator Rafiu Ibrahim’s four years and Senator Lola Ashiru’s two terms. In the interest of fairness, it is the Igbomina bloc’s turn to produce the next Senator, He added.
The KSUG leader further highlighted the numerical strength of the Igbomina bloc, which comprises three local government areas including Ifelodun, Irepodun, and Isin, compared to the two local governments area each for the Ekiti and Ibolo blocs. This, he argued, makes the call for an Igbomina Senator a “doctrine of necessity.”
The group not only advocated for an Igbomina Senator but specifically endorsed Engr. Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun, a member of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Board of Trustees, as their preferred candidate.
Hon. Alao described Adeyemi as a good-natured person and a very loyal and dependable lieutenant who has remained committed to the progressive ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite not securing the party’s nomination on two previous occasions.
“His impacts as a member of the Board of TETFUND have been felt, and we are sure that if he emerges as our representative in the senate, he will do more,” Alao added.
Other speakers, including Comrade John Agbenisi from the Ekiti bloc, Dr. Babatunde Salami, a former Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, and Hon. Waheed Abolaji Alenuloro, echoed the call for fairness and unity. They praised Adeyemi’s character, loyalty, and humanitarian interventions, asserting that he is a “tested and trusted” candidate who will serve the entire senatorial district with distinction.
Hon. Abolaji Alenuloro, a former Special Assistant on Special Duties to Kwara Governor and an Ibolo indigene, emphasized that his support for an Igbomina candidate was in the interest of everyone despite not being from the bloc.
In his response, the Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, Oba Solomon Olugbenga Oloyede, praised the KSUG for their approach, particularly their adherence to punctuality, which he called an “uncommon virtue.”
He commended them for consulting with stakeholders and seeking royal guidance.
“My doors are always open for issues bothering the collective success of our region,” the monarch said, promising to continue supporting efforts aimed at the development of Kwara South.
He, however, charged all prospective candidates to focus on working for the unity of the district and to secure their party tickets through due process.