The agitation for Odo-Otin Local Government to produce the next House of Representatives candidate for the Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency has continued to gather momentum ahead of the forthcoming elections.

Stakeholders across political circles, civil society groups and community-based organisations have intensified calls on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the party’s ticket to Odo-Otin in the interest of fairness, equity and balanced representation.

The groups argued that since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, representation of the constituency has largely rotated between Ifelodun and Boripe local governments, with Odo-Otin having limited opportunity.

They noted that Odo-Otin has produced only one representative within the period, and even then, for a relatively short duration, a situation they described as inequitable and in need of urgent redress.

The constituency is currently represented by Hon. Olusoji Abidemi Adetunji of the Accord Party, who hails from Ifelodun Local Government.

Available records indicate that Hon. Abioye Oyetunji (Ifelodun) served from 1999 to 2003; Hon. Ranti Alabi (Odo-Otin) from 2003 to 2005; Hon. Kayode Idowu (Boripe) from 2005 to 2011; Hon. Adeyanju Adeyinka Ajayi (Boripe) from 2011 to 2019; and Hon. Rasheed Afolabi (Ifelodun) from 2019 to 2023.

Analysts point out that Odo-Otin’s representation lasted just about 30 months, reinforcing arguments for the area to be considered in the next zoning arrangement.

Meanwhile, three aspirants from Odo-Otin — Bello Adegboyega Basheer (BABS), Teleola Michael Oyegoke (TMO), and Francis Damilare Eniade — have indicated interest in contesting the seat under the APC platform.

In a related development, a group, Odo-Otin Youth Vanguard, has called for further micro-zoning of the ticket to Inisa community within the local government.

In a statement signed by its coordinator, Abiodun Damilare, the group argued that Inisa holds the highest voting strength in Odo-Otin, with four wards, and would significantly boost the APC’s chances at the polls.

While reiterating support for zoning the ticket to Odo-Otin, the group maintained that allocating it to Inisa would enhance the party’s electoral advantage and ensure victory in the constituency.