Traditional Rulers in Ejigbo Reject Third-Term Agenda, Demand Fair Power Rotation in Federal Constituency

A foremost traditional ruler in Osun State, the Ogiyan of Ejigboland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin, alongside other traditional rulers within Ejigbo Local Government, has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke and the leadership of the Accord Party in Osun State to uphold fairness, justice, and equity in the distribution of political power within the zone.

The monarchs made the call against the backdrop of the declaration of Honourable Bamidele Salam for a third term in the House of Representatives — a development many stakeholders within the constituency believe runs contrary to the longstanding rotational arrangement among the constituent local governments.

Speaking with journalists at his palace, the Ogiyan of Ejigboland, who is widely regarded as the longest-reigning traditional ruler in Osun State, stressed that, in the spirit of fairness and political balance, Ejigbo should be given the opportunity to produce the Accord Party’s candidate for the Ede South/Ede North/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the next general election.

According to Oba Oyesosin, it has never been the political tradition within the constituency for a single local government to occupy the seat for two consecutive terms, let alone seek a third term. He described the agitation for a third term as unacceptable to the people of Ejigbo and several other communities within the federal constituency.

The monarch appealed to political stakeholders, party leaders, and other actors within the Accord Party to approach the selection of the party’s candidate with fairness, sensitivity, and a sense of justice in order to avoid unnecessary political tension and possible miscalculations within the zone.

Oba Oyesosin maintained that Ejigbo remains a formidable force in the political structure of the constituency and would resist every attempt at political marginalisation or suppression of its rights, especially at a time when the people strongly believe it is their rightful turn to produce the next representative.

He further emphasised the need for inclusive politics capable of giving every town and community within the constituency a genuine sense of belonging, warning that any arrangement perceived as exclusionary could generate avoidable political unrest.

The royal father also called on opinion leaders, elders, political gladiators, and other men of conscience across the constituency to intervene before the situation escalates, lamenting what he described as the silence of many key stakeholders despite growing agitation from Ejigbo.

Corroborating the position of the Ogiyan, another traditional ruler from the zone, Oba Zakariyau Akintunde Adeola (Adeola I), stated that traditional rulers across Ejigbo strongly reject the alleged third-term agenda, describing it as alien to the political culture and established tradition of the constituency.

Oba Adeola declared that no town or community within the Ejigbo axis would support any third-term ambition, urging party leaders not to test the patience of the people.

“We are not accepting any other person apart from our own son from Ejigbo, Hon. Timothy Folaranmi, to represent us in the House of Representatives in the 2027 general election,” the monarch stated.

It would be recalled that Hon Bamidele Salam of Egbedore local Government had represented Ede North,Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the past eight years.