2027: First female Ondo speaker, Akindele, declares for Senate

Former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele, on Tuesday declared her intention to contest the Ondo South Senatorial District seat under the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to the development of the district.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists, the first female Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly said her decision to contest is driven by persistent developmental gaps in Ondo South, including economic hardship, youth unemployment, infrastructure deficits, and recurring sea incursion in coastal communities like Ayetoro.

She noted that these challenges demand urgent and practical solutions, as well as stronger and more effective representation at the national level, saying Ondo South deserves leadership that is bold, experienced, and committed to delivering tangible results that directly improve the lives of the people.

Akindele said her decision followed wide consultations and careful reflection, stressing that her ambition is driven by a genuine desire to serve and provide purposeful leadership that aligns with the aspirations of the people.

She cited her public service experience and commitment to inclusive governance as key strengths, expressing confidence that, with public support, Ondo South can gain greater opportunities, stronger national representation, and equitable attention to all communities.

Speaking on the consensus arrangements within the party, Akindele affirmed her strong respect for consensus-building and internal party supremacy, noting that her aspiration is fully guided by party processes and collective decision-making.

She maintained that all aspirants must be fully carried along in any consensus arrangement, stressing that the process should be transparent, fair, and inclusive to ensure trust and unity within the party.

According to her, consensus should not exclude or silence any stakeholder but should instead reflect broad consultations and genuine agreement among all interested parties to foster unity within the party ahead of the election.

She stated that she remains committed to whatever outcome emerges from broad consultations within the party structure, emphasising that the APC remains supreme in all political considerations.

She said, “Ondo South deserves a bold, experienced and people-centered voice in Abuja that will truly reflect the aspirations of the people and deliver meaningful representation.

“True representation is not about sharing gifts or making empty promises, but about speaking boldly for the people and ensuring that their challenges are properly addressed at the national level.

“Effective leadership means highlighting local challenges nationally, sponsoring laws that provide real solutions, and ensuring that approved projects are not left on paper but fully implemented for the benefit of the people.”

“Our focus must be on attracting federal attention to Ondo South while prioritising key infrastructure such as the Ondo–Ore and Ore–Okitipupa road corridors, which are critical to development and connectivity.”

ALSO READ: How I bagged PhD at 27, won UT Dallas’ Outstanding Graduate Student award — Nigeria’s Muneer Yaqub

On zoning, Akindele said although the Constitution does not formally recognise it, political fairness and balance often guide leadership choices, stressing that “decisions in Ondo South should reflect equity across its federal constituencies and avoid political imbalance, especially given existing power representation within the district”

Beyond zoning, Akindele advocated greater female participation in politics, noting that Ondo has never produced a female senator. She cited Rwanda and South Africa as examples and urged APC leaders to support inclusive candidacies, saying it would strengthen governance and leave a lasting legacy.

“My priority will be women empowerment, child welfare, economic development, and addressing the persistent ocean incursion in Ayetoro, because these are issues that directly affect the wellbeing of our people.” she said