By Ogunmodede Ifelayo
Political Analyst In Ado Ekiti
As the race for the House of Representatives thickens, we are seeing a wave of capable and ambitious individuals stepping forward to represent the people. While this is encouraging, it is crucial to look beyond mere announcements and ask: who is genuinely prepared to contest, and who is merely testing the waters with social media or public declarations?
In Federal Constituency 1, several government appointees have publicly expressed their intention to run. Among them are SSA to the President on student engagement Hon. Sunday Asefon; Hon. Architect Tope Ogunleye, special adviser, Office of State Capital Development; Hon. Sunday Ibitoye, chairman of the Board of Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency; and Hon. Tokunbo Ajila, chairman of the Board of Ekiti State Sports Development Trust Fund and Assistant Director at the Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA). Private sector professionals have also joined the fray, including Ologunja Kayode, CEO of First Hathway Nigeria Limited, and Dr Jimlas Opeyemi Ogunsakin, a paediatrician based in Abuja.
Despite their declared interest, these individuals have yet to resign from their current positions, which is a step required by law for anyone seeking elective office.
According to the Electoral Act 2026, Section 88(1), all political appointees wishing to contest in the 2027 elections must resign from their positions on or before March 31, 2026. This deadline is tied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable for party primaries and is not negotiable. Failure to resign by this date renders an appointee ineligible to contest in party primaries. Moreover, if a political party allows such an individual to participate, it risks disqualification of its candidate from the general election.
Also, the Ekiti State APC has set up a screening committee for the primary election. The screening committee has reinforced this rule, requiring all aspirants, whether political appointees, private sector executives, or public servants, to resign before appearing for screening. In short, declarations without resignation are empty gestures.
However, one of the aspirants, Mr Sunday Ola, has shown commitment by resigning from his position as chairman of the board of the Sports Council to pursue his political ambition. His action signals respect for the law and readiness to contest, a stark contrast to others who remain in office while proclaiming their interest.
This raises an important question: are these individuals serious about their political ambitions, or are they simply generating visibility through social media campaigns and public announcements? The Federal Constituency 1 race shouldn’t be about expressing interest or about who can shout the loudest or trend online; it should be about who respects due process and meets the legal requirements.
Conclusively, only those who resign and submit themselves to proper screening can claim to be serious contenders.
