Senatorial by-election: Aiyedatiwa canvasses support for Kekemeke
May 15, 2026 12:25 am
Isaacs Kekemeke. Credit: APC
By Peter Dada
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Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has called on all members of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo South Senatorial District to support the National Vice Chairman (South West) of the party, Mr Isaacs Kekemeke, ahead of the by-election coming up in the district next month.
The senatorial seat of the district became vacant following the appointment of Jimoh Ibrahim, who was appointed as the permanent country representative at the United Nations.
Sequel to the declaration of the seat vacant by the Senate, the Independent National Electoral Commission fixed June 20, 2026, for the conduct of the by-election.
Aiyedatiwa, speaking at the party’s stakeholders’ meeting at Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, informed party members that the decision to pick Kekemeke as the party’s consensus for the Ondo South Senatorial District was driven by fairness, equity and justice.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Segun Omojuwa, the governor also noted that President Bola Tinubu “has been endorsed and adopted by the party in the state for the 2027 presidential election.”
Following the disclosure of the party’s position, party leaders and members adopted and reaffirmed Kekemeke’s candidacy as capable of providing a strong voice and presence at the National Assembly for Ondo South.
Describing Kekemeke as a loyal party man, the party leaders and members at the meeting said his pioneering efforts at building the APC as state chairman and national vice chairman in the South-West were impactful.
One of the aspirants, Prof Dele Odimayo, moved the motion for the adoption of Kekemeke and others as consensus candidates and his motion was overwhelmingly adopted by the party at the Irele Local Government Council.
They unanimously adopted him as the consensus candidate to fly the party’s flag during the forthcoming by-election.
Responding, Kekemeke thanked the governor for the exceptional courage and leadership he had shown as the leader of the party in the state in mediating the consensus arrangement.
He promised the governor and the people of Ondo State that he would, along with other consensus candidates for the National Assembly and state House of Assembly, complement the good works of the governor through a legislative framework that would drive socio-economic growth and sustainability in the state.
He enjoined all Ilajes to see his endorsement as a deliberate move “to rebuild trust and cement the socio-economic ties that had long existed between the Ilajes and Ijaws.”
He said, “I understand your challenges and needs, and together with the governor and others, there will be solutions.”
Dismissing misconceptions about ethnic colouration or alleged disruption of existing rotational political arrangements as it concerned Irele Local Government, Kekemeke reminded party stalwarts that by natural and geographical affinity, Irele LG and Ese Odo are one, though they are in different federal constituencies.
He promised the people of Irele that he intended to promote sustainable socio-economic initiatives that would improve their living conditions.
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