UPDATED: Ogun 2027: Imeko-Afon State Constituency Calls for Justice, Reject Imposition of Zone 2 Candidate After 20 Years

The forthcoming election in Imeko-Afon State Constituency in Ogun State, has ignited renewed calls for justice, fairness, and proper adherence to established zoning arrangements in the area.

Residents and political stakeholders are raising concerns over attempts to impose a candidate from Zone 2 after two decades of dominance, a development which is already causing tension and disaffection among residents.

Political analysts and community leaders are insisting that the results of the House of Representatives election should not be used as a benchmark for the State Assembly race.

They argued that these two offices serve different mandates and represent different constituencies. According to them, conflating the outcomes undermines the principles of fair representation and weakens the integrity of the electoral process as such moves also threaten the unity and equitable development of the area.

Giving a chronological detail of the representation in the zone, Ketu Progressive Movement (KPM), in a statement on Saturday, said that since the inception of the current political structure, Imeko-Afon’s representation has been divided into three zones to promote fairness.

However, for the past 20 years, Zone 2 has held the legislative seat, with Hon. Salmon Adeleke serving for 8 years and Hon. Jemili Akingbade holding the position for 12 years — both from the same zone.

According to the statement, the development which smacked of monopoly and marginalization of other zones, has sparked agitation for the creation of a new Zone 4 to address the imbalance.

Critics argued that if zoning exists to promote equity, then continuing to favour Zone 2 defeats that purpose. They emphasized that political rotation should be respected to ensure all zones benefit from fair representation.

The election for the House of Representatives, which covers multiple LGAs, tends to reflect a spread of the zonal rotation—between Yewa North and Imeko Afon—shaping voting patterns at the federal level.

Conversely, the State Assembly elections are confined within Imeko Afon LGA, which contains only ten wards. Voters tend to focus on local issues, making the election outcomes independent of federal results.

“Therefore, using the federal electoral results as a basis for State Assembly decisions is misleading, as each election operates within its own unique political framework”, the statement reads.

On appointments, the statement postulated that they are mandates, and not zoning bargains.

“Another contentious issue is the misuse of political appointments as bargaining chips for zoning arrangements. We want to warn that appointments—such as commissioners and board members—should be based on the mandates of elected administrations, not used as rewards for zoning deals. When appointments are made with political settlements in mind, it compromises governance and loyalty shifts from policy to deal-making.

“The constituency is divided into Isokan and Ketu regions. Historically, Isokan has benefited more from political opportunities, leaving Ketu feeling sidelined. The people of Ketu are now questioning the fairness of zoning policies and the future of regional balance in political representation”.

The statement therefore highlight that sustainable development and unity can only be achieved through equitable distribution of political opportunities across both regions, adding that genuine rotation and fairness will foster social cohesion and promote progress.

“We agree therefore that for Imeko-Afon to continue thriving, its political system must be rooted in fairness and respect for zoning principles. Justice in representation is crucial for the development and unity of the constituency”.

As the electorates gear up for the general elections, the call for balanced, inclusive governance echoes across Imeko-Afon, where fairness and justice ought to be the pillars for a prosperous future.