By Bianca Johnson
Ado Ekiti
A group f concerned citizens under the aegis of Measurable Impact and Good Governance (MIGG) has cautioned the Senate Leader, Dr Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, against what they described as a creeping attempt to impose a preferred aspirant on the people of Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 ahead of the APC Primaries for 2027 National Assembly Elections in Ekiti State.
In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti, the group leader Chief Mrs Mosunmade Asiribo urged the lawmaker to protect his long standing reputation and political integrity by aligning himself with the position of Governor Bidoun Oyebanji, party leaders and concerned stakeholders, by allowing a transparent and competitive process within the All Progressives Congress, rather than backing any individual perceived to lack grassroots acceptance.
The group said it was alarmed by recent political signals suggesting alleged support for Olusola Steve Fatoba’s third term agenda even without any tangible results and impacts on the lives of constituents and the communities he currently represents at the Green Chamber, warning that such a move could erode internal democracy and alienate party loyalists across the constituency.
According to the group, Senator Bamidele’s past electoral successes were largely built on visible performance, accessibility, and people centred projects even during his time in the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015. It noted that his acceptance across communities was earned through measurable impact rather than political imposition.
They also maintained that the overwhelming support the Senate Leader currently enjoys today stems from his contributions to infrastructure, human capital development, and legislative interventions that directly benefited constituents. These, they said, included facilitation of key federal projects including a federal University in Iyin Ekiti and his sustained collaboration with the state government to improve livelihoods.
Against this backdrop, the group asked, “Senate Leader sir, can you please compare your achievements years back with the tokenism we get from Olusola Fatoba, what tangible thing can he point to as a legacy? We are asking that you just continue to act like the father of all that you are. We hold you in highest esteem and we will not want your name to be dragged in the mud with any attachment to the attempt to bring or impose poor representation on us again”
Chief Mrs Mosunmade Asiribo charged MOB as popularly called to allow candidates to be subjected to test of popularity and performance, stressing that leadership should be rooted in merit, credibility, and verifiable achievements.
Raising concerns over Fatoba’s political trajectory, the group alleged that his years in the Green Chamber had not translated into tangible development outcomes comparable to expectations. It insisted that any aspirant seeking public office must be able to present a clear record of service and impact as well as be subjected to periodic evaluation by the electorate.
They further warned that any attempt to foist an unpopular candidate on the electorate in Ado and Irepodun Ifelodun local government areas could trigger internal discontent and weaken the party’s electoral chances.
They emphasized that the era when candidates were handpicked without due consultation had passed, adding that modern political engagement requires responsiveness to the will of the people and respect for due process.
While acknowledging the leadership stature of Senator Bamidele, the group appealed to him to rise above partisan pressures and act in the broader interest of democracy by supporting a free, fair, and credible primary process.
They concluded that strengthening internal democracy within the APC would not only preserve its dominance in Ekiti politics but also reinforce public confidence in the party as a platform committed to fairness, accountability, and the true spirit of representative governance.