Group Backs Rep. Bamidele Salam’s Re-election Bid, Denounces Falsehood Campaign

A coalition of stakeholders under the banner of E4 Development Advocates has declared its full support for the re-election of Representative Bamidele Salam to the House of Representatives, insisting that the Ejigbo axis of the constituency has not been sidelined in the political structure since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

The Coordinator of the Group, Dr. Ogundeji Awoniyi made this statement on Tuesday during a press briefing, where the group described the aspiring third term for the lawmaker representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency of Osun State at the National Assembly as “sensible, just, and equitable,” citing his legislative record and grassroots interventions.

The group strongly condemned a campaign strategy built on falsehood, emotional manipulation, and a dangerous attempt to rewrite political history.

The statement read in part: “The E4 Development Advocates, a coalition of community leaders, professionals, youth groups, and development-focused stakeholders, hereby issue this communiqué to express our unwavering support for the re-election of Rep. Bamidele Salam to the House of Representatives to represent the good people of Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, and Ejigbo Federal Constituency once again.

“Ranked among the top 20 most productive lawmakers in the 10th House of Representatives by ERGAF-AFRICA’s Legislative Productivity Index, Rep. Salam stands out as the top-performing representative from Osun State, with notable contributions including 33 legislative actions in a single session and multiple bills sponsored.

“Beyond legislative duties, Rep. Salam’s constituency outreach programs have been both inclusive and far-reaching. From youth empowerment initiatives like the Business and Leadership Bootcamp, skills acquisition programs for women and artisans, medical and welfare outreach for older persons and other vulnerable groups, and educational support schemes for students to healthcare interventions and infrastructure projects, Rep. Salam has maintained a people-centered approach to governance. These interventions have directly impacted thousands of constituents, particularly women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and young people.”

In further highlighting the lawmaker’s constituency interventions, the group stated that several verifiable projects have been executed across the federal constituency.

The statement noted: “Some of these verifiable projects include but are not limited to: construction of over 100 blocks of classrooms in 25 primary and secondary schools across the four local government areas; provision of bursaries to over 3,000 students of secondary schools and higher institutions across the four local government areas; training and empowerment of over 1,000 youth and young graduates under the Business and Leadership Bootcamp Initiative, with the presentation of over N150 million in grants for capital start-up and equipment to address youth unemployment and boost socio-economic impact.

“Others include the provision of over 50 motorised and solar-powered boreholes in several communities; installation of solar-powered street lights across multiple communities; provision of 300KVA and 500KVA transformers to over 50 communities alongside facilitation of rural electrification projects; and the training and distribution of empowerment items to over 20,000 constituents across sectors such as artisanship, education, ICT, agriculture, and digital marketing.

“The interventions also cover the presentation of over N40 million in grants to local women under the BS-E4 Ajoje Women Micro-Credit Scheme; a N10 million grant to the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) across the four local government areas for micro-credit facilities; and the construction of 10 town halls, civic centres, a pensioner house, ICT centre, police station, leadership training centre, and skill acquisition centre for professional groups across the constituency.

“In addition, over 100 indigent students have been sponsored on full scholarships in both private and public institutions within Nigeria and abroad; over N20 million in subventions has been provided to students’ bodies; and instructional materials including computers, school bags, notebooks, textbooks, and past questions have been distributed to more than 200 public primary and secondary schools, positively impacting over 20,000 pupils.

“Furthermore, the lawmaker has facilitated permanent job opportunities for hundreds of constituents in various federal MDAs, as well as executed over 30 kilometres of road construction and rehabilitation projects across several communities within the constituency.”

The Group further said, “Democracy thrives on healthy competition. While we do not, in any way, oppose the legitimate aspirations of any individual seeking public office, we strongly reject a campaign strategy built on falsehood, emotional manipulation, and a dangerous attempt to rewrite political history.

“For the avoidance of doubt, and in fairness to the intelligence of innocent and unsuspecting members of the public, the verifiable record of representation within the E4 Federal Constituency clearly shows that Ejigbo Local Government has enjoyed a significant and equitable share of political opportunities.

“For the record, Ejigbo Local Government has enjoyed considerable political representation and patronage since the advent of this democratic dispensation in 1999. In addition to producing a Senator of the Federal Republic, the local government has produced representatives elected into the National Assembly on two separate occasions.

“Since 1999, the House of Representatives seat has moved across the constituency: Isiaq A. Aliyu (Ede North, 1999–2003), Ayinde Gbadebo Muftau (Ede South, 2003–2007), Falade Ajibade Michael (Ejigbo, 2007–2011), Ajagbe Adetunji Tajudeen (Ede North, 2011–2015), Prof. Mojeed Alabi (Ejigbo, 2015–2019), and Bamidele Salam (Egbedore, 2019–present). This sequence reflects a pattern of inclusion and balance, in which Ejigbo has not only participated but has indeed benefited on multiple occasions.

“Beyond the National Assembly, Ejigbo’s footprint in the broader political architecture of Osun State further proves its strong presence over the years. The local government has produced two Speakers of the Osun State House of Assembly: Rt. Hon. Prof. Mojeed Alabi (1999–2003) and Rt. Hon. Najeem Folasayo Salam (2011–2019), amounting to a cumulative 12 years in that strategic position.

“Additionally, Ejigbo produced a Senator of the Federal Republic, Senator Mudashiru Hussein (2011–2015). These, alongside other notable appointments, firmly dispel any narrative of marginalization and instead affirm Ejigbo as a well-represented and integral stakeholder within the constituency’s political evolution.

“Meanwhile, in Nigeria’s complex parliamentary system, ranking members like Rep. Salam, who chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts and serves in the ECOWAS Parliament, wield greater influence to secure federal allocations and oversee accountability. A re-election would elevate his seniority, enabling deeper committee leadership, more robust advocacy for constituency projects, and accelerated development in education, health, infrastructure, and empowerment programs.

“At this crucial stage of our constituency’s development trajectory, it is imperative to consolidate the gains already achieved. Re-electing Rep. Salam will not only ensure continuity but also elevate the constituency’s standing in national politics, thereby unlocking greater opportunities for development.

“Let us reiterate, E4 Development Advocates is not in opposition to ambition. What we oppose is the descent into crude, divisive, and outdated political tactics, where communities are pitched against one another, and facts are sacrificed on the altar of personal interest. We urge all aspirants to pursue their ambitions with dignity, integrity, and respect for the intelligence of our people.

“Respected stakeholders of our great party and the larger electorate of this constituency are readily informed, experienced, and capable of making decisions based on truth, not propaganda. Therefore, we urge political actors and party leaders to prioritize competence, proven performance, and integrity in their selection processes, recognizing that the future of our constituency depends on the quality of leadership we entrust with public office. As members of the Accord Family, we remain committed to unity. We commend the leadership of the party for their ongoing efforts to maintain cohesion and stability in the face of emerging but needless tensions.

“Finally, we call on all political actors to align with the broader vision of development and good governance being championed by His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State. This vision is one that prioritizes progress over politics, and people over propaganda. Rep. Bamidele Salam has, through his service, demonstrated full alignment with this vision, transforming representation from mere title to tangible impact. We must not allow divisive ambitions to derail the progress we have collectively achieved.”