Say 28 Years of Political Exclusion Is Unfair, Undemocratic and Against the Principles of Balanced Representation
By CoolNews Nigeria Reporter
March 28, 2026
A powerful political and moral argument has now been advanced for the zoning of the Ekiti North Senatorial seat to Ikole Local Government Area ahead of the 2027 general elections, following a formal appeal by concerned traditional rulers from the area to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In what appears to be one of the strongest interventions yet on the future of the Ekiti North Senatorial District, the monarchs, under the umbrella of the Ikole Local Government Traditional Council, said it would amount to grave injustice, inequity, and continued marginalisation if Ikole is once again denied the opportunity to produce the next senator.
Their position was conveyed in a letter dated March 28, 2026, jointly endorsed by over twenty traditional rulers across communities in Ikole Local Government and addressed to the President at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
At the centre of the monarchs’ appeal is the argument that Ikole Local Government has suffered nearly three decades of political exclusion in the contest for the Senate seat, despite being one of the most politically significant local governments in the district.
According to them, while every other local government in Ekiti North Senatorial District has had the privilege of producing a senator since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Ikole remains the only one yet to occupy the seat.
For the royal fathers, the issue goes beyond ordinary politics. They described it as a serious question of justice, fairness, equal participation, and democratic inclusion, insisting that no part of a senatorial district should be perpetually shut out from representation.
They argued that democracy loses its moral strength when a major and strategic bloc within a constituency is repeatedly sidelined despite its population, voting strength, loyalty, and contribution to party growth and state politics.
The traditional rulers maintained that equity requires that every section of a political district must, over time, have a sense of belonging and participation in governance, especially in a setting where balance and inclusion are critical to political peace and unity.
They warned that if Ikole is ignored again in the 2027 zoning arrangement, it would amount to institutionalising political imbalance and rewarding long-standing marginalisation.
The monarchs explained that Ekiti North Senatorial District is made up of five local governments, grouped into two federal constituencies. While Federal Constituency I consists of Ikole and Oye Local Governments, Federal Constituency II comprises Moba, Ido/Osi, and Ilejemeje Local Governments.
They noted, however, that the pattern of senatorial representation since 1999 has heavily favoured one side of the district.
According to the breakdown provided in the letter, the seat was occupied by Moba Local Government from 1999 to 2007, Oye Local Government from 2007 to 2011, Ido/Osi Local Government from 2011 to 2015, Ilejemeje Local Government from 2015 to 2019, Ido/Osi again from 2019 to 2023, and Ido/Osi once more from 2023 to 2027.
From this historical arrangement, the monarchs observed that Federal Constituency II has held the seat for 24 out of the 28 years since 1999, while Ikole, despite being in Federal Constituency I, has remained completely excluded.
They described this as lopsided, politically unhealthy, and inconsistent with the spirit of fairness and rotational justice that should ordinarily guide representation in a democratic society.
For the royal fathers, the 2027 election presents a clear opportunity to correct a wrong that has endured for nearly three decades.
They argued that if Moba, Oye, Ido/Osi, and Ilejemeje have all had their turn at producing senators, then natural justice, political morality, and fairness demand that Ikole should now be allowed to produce the next senator.
According to them, zoning is not merely a political convenience or bargaining tool, but a practical mechanism for balancing interests, preserving unity, reducing resentment, and ensuring that every section of a district feels represented and valued.
To deny Ikole this opportunity again, they said, would deepen feelings of exclusion and reinforce the belief that some parts of the district are only remembered during elections but deliberately overlooked when positions of power are being shared.
The monarchs also anchored their appeal on Ikole’s undeniable political and electoral weight within Ekiti State.
They noted that Ikole Local Government is one of the largest local governments in the state, both in terms of population and political relevance, and is widely regarded as the second largest local government in Ekiti State by voter strength.
They argued that it is difficult to justify how a local government of such size and electoral significance could remain without a senator for almost 30 years, while smaller local governments have not only produced senators, but in some cases produced them more than once.
To the monarchs, representation should not be based solely on convenience or elite political calculations, but must reflect population strength, contribution, party loyalty, and fairness.
They maintained that Ikole has paid its dues in the politics of Ekiti North and should no longer be treated as an afterthought in the district’s power equation.
Another major concern raised by the traditional rulers was what they described as the continued neglect of Ikole despite its support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
They recalled that the matter of zoning and fairness had already become a major issue during the 2023 general election, but despite the widespread concerns raised at the time, Ikole was once again bypassed.
Yet, according to them, the people of Ikole continued to support the APC and remained committed to the party’s success, even in the face of disappointment.
The royal fathers suggested that continued loyalty should not be mistaken for weakness or endless political patience, warning that fairness must eventually accompany loyalty if trust and unity are to be sustained.
They therefore urged the leadership of the APC to see the 2027 race as an opportunity to reward consistency with justice and to prove that the party remains committed to internal balance and equitable power-sharing.
The monarchs were also emphatic that Ikole is not lacking in qualified individuals capable of occupying the office.
They stated that the local government is blessed with credible, competent, dependable, and experienced sons and daughters who possess the capacity, exposure, and political maturity required to represent the district effectively in the Senate.
According to them, the challenge has never been about availability of quality aspirants, but rather the unwillingness of the political system to give Ikole a fair chance.
They insisted that allowing Ikole to produce the next senator would not be an act of charity, but rather an act of justice backed by merit, competence, and historical necessity.
In their appeal to President Tinubu, the traditional rulers called on him to use his influence as President and leader of the ruling party to ensure that Ikole Local Government receives due consideration during the APC primary process for the 2027 election.
They expressed confidence that the President, who has consistently spoken about inclusion, balance, and democratic fairness, would appreciate the need to address what they see as a long-standing political imbalance in Ekiti North.
The monarchs urged him to support the emergence of an indigene of Ikole Local Government as the next APC senatorial candidate, arguing that such a decision would help restore confidence in the principles of fairness and equal opportunity within the party.
Political observers say the intervention by the traditional rulers has now elevated the issue beyond mere political ambition and turned it into a larger debate about equity, inclusion, and rotational justice in Ekiti North.
The development is expected to intensify political conversations within the APC and among key stakeholders in Ekiti State as the countdown to the 2027 elections gradually begins.
At stake, many believe, is not just who gets the ticket or who eventually becomes senator, but whether the district is prepared to uphold a principle that many now consider unavoidable — that no local government should remain permanently excluded from representation.
For the traditional rulers of Ikole, the message is unmistakable and direct:
If justice, fairness, and equity truly matter in Ekiti North politics, then 2027 must be Ikole’s turn.
The letter was signed by several traditional rulers across Ikole Local Government, including HRM, Jegun Adeola Fagbamila (JP), Olotunja of Otunja Ekiti; HRM, Oba Olufemi Aribisala (JP), Alaye of Oke Ayedun Ekiti; HRM, Oba (Pst) David Olosemi Atolagbe, Ologede of Iye Ekiti; HRM, Oba Oluyemi Samuel, Olusin of Usin Ekiti; HRM, Oba (Barr.) Babatunde Jayeola, Onise of Odooro Ekiti; HRM, Oba Evans (Dr) Solomon A. Ajibade, Owa of Odo Ayedun Ekiti; HRM, Oba (Alh.) Kareem A. Adeniran, Olufa of Itapaji Ekiti; HRM, Oba Samuel A. Fatoba (JP), Alara of Ara Ekiti; HRM, Oba Emmanuel Ojo Omopariola, Ajiboye of Ipawo Ekiti; and HRM, Oba (Amb.) Bayode Alimunni Ayeni, Olu of Iyemero Ekiti, among others.
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