By Dayo Johnson kure

Ahead of the bye election to fill the Ondo Southern senatorial district seat, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olorunnimbe Tawose, has asked the leadership of the party to zone the ticket to Odigbo council area of the state for equity and fairness.

Tawose in an interview in Akure, the state capital, said this was because the council remains the only one among the six councils within the district with no federal representation.

Recall that Senator Jimoh lbrahim, who represents the senatorial district has been appointed as an ambassador by President Bola Tinubu.

The APC chieftain, disagreed with the notion in some quarters that the seat should remain in Okitipupa Local Council.

Tawose said that Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s elevation as ambassador designate inherently opens the seat for a fresh zoning consideration.

Arguing that the zoning arrangement for the southern senatorial seat rightly points to the Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Federal Constituency, he specifically pointed said that Odigbo Local Council, should be considered because of its political strength and the disadvantaged position.

According to Tawose, among all six councils in Ondo South, Odigbo remains the only one without any form of federal representation, whether through elective office or appointment at the federal level, despite the council being a core stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I’m not biased, I must tell you the truth. If you go through the pedigree and political history of individuals that are showing interest, I don’t want to go into individuals, the most qualified is Mayowa Akinfolarin, who was twice a state assembly member and did very well for himself.

“He was a deputy speaker in the state, and he went to the National Assembly twice and also did very well. He assisted many people. He’s a man of integrity. In fact, I can even describe him as an epitome of humility. He’s a gentleman.

“Jimoh was elected and later got another appointment that is even higher than the senatorial seat, and he comes from Okititupapa Local Government, which is already loaded with other appointments, too numerous to mention.

“I want to say, without prejudice, that it was never the turn of Okitipupa at the time Jiimoh got it. But he got it, and we, as party faithfuls, party members, and loyalists, worked for him and won the election.

” But I want to tell you, it was never the turn of Okitipupa Local Government. So the plan of Okitipupa Local Government to now want to take over Jimoh’s position is not applicable and not allowed.”

He added that “Jimoh was elected and later got another appointment even higher than the senatorial seat. He comes from Okitipupa, which is already well-represented.