Stakeholders, youths, students and union representatives from Ife‑North Local Government Area of Osun State have called for the 2027 House of Representatives ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord Party to be zoned to their constituency.
The demand was announced in a press conference on Monday by a coalition of Ife‑North indigenes living in Nigeria and abroad. The coalition’s statement described the request as a response to “decades of political exclusion” and urged the two parties to adopt a transparent zoning framework for the Ife Federal Constituency.
Coalition Chairman Bolaji Olabode said the call was a matter of “justice and equitable representation.” He argued that Ife‑North’s relevance should extend beyond electoral cycles to actual legislative presence. Emmanuel Oderinola, another coalition member, highlighted what he called a mismatch between the area’s economic contributions and the limited political rewards it has received, noting that “our contributions to the economy and elections are significant, yet development and opportunities remain minimal.”
Since the creation of the constituency in 1989, Ife‑North has not produced a member of the House of Representatives nor secured key appointive positions, according to the coalition. Student leader Olalekan Johnson, known as Idera, appealed for unity, stating, “This is the moment to convert our numbers into influence. We must stand together and demand our rightful place.” Youth activist Babalola Taiwo described the situation as “generational marginalisation,” arguing that the exclusion is systemic rather than a reflection of capability.
Coalition Secretary Akinnibi Miftahudeen emphasized that the demand transcended party lines, framing it as a question of fairness: “No political structure can remain credible while systematically excluding a people.” Another student representative, Oluwafemi Oladele, known as Fresh, expressed readiness to mobilise, adding that the next phase “will not be passive—we will be active participants in shaping our future.”
The coalition urged both the APC and Accord Party to zone the 2027 House of Representatives ticket to Ife‑North and called on the neighboring local governments—Ife Central, Ife East and Ife South—to support what it described as a “new order based on justice and balanced representation.” It warned that it would organise mobilisation efforts to ensure the demand is met.
The request comes amid broader discussions across Nigeria about zoning arrangements and equitable distribution of political offices. If the parties respond positively, the zoning could set a precedent for other constituencies seeking similar adjustments before the 2027 general elections.
