2027: Ondo senator denies losing APC primary

Senator Olajide Ipinsagba, representing the Ondo North Senatorial District, has vehemently denied reports claiming he lost the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for his senatorial ticket.

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Our attention has been drawn to a commentary circulating in the media declaring the political career of Senator Olajide Ipinsagba, Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, is over following the recent APC primary.

The national Secretariat of the APC in Abuja has yet to release the official results of the primary, creating an atmosphere of suspense among all stakeholders involved. Ipinsagba's media aide, Prince Adeyinka Ajagunna, issued a statement on Monday addressing the circulating reports, which he described as "false and mischievous."

The statement asserted that the senator's political career has not concluded, countering claims that his mandate in 2023 was merely borrowed. It highlighted the thousands of voters across Owo, Akoko South/West, Akoko North East, Akoko North West, Akoko South East, and Ose who cast their ballots for Senator Ipinsagba. While acknowledging the support of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the aide stressed that the votes were ultimately cast by the people.

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We issue this in the interest of facts, decorum, and the democratic values our party and constituents hold dear. The assertion that the 2023 mandate was borrowed undermines the thousands of voters across Owo, Akoko South/West, Akoko North East, Akoko North West, Akoko South East, and Ose who cast their ballots for Senator Ipinsagba in 2023.

According to the statement, Senator Ipinsagba's office has been actively working since June 2023 to translate his mandate into tangible impacts. These efforts include facilitating rural road projects, intervening in healthcare access, providing educational support for students across the six local government areas, and engaging consistently with constituents. The aide argued that reducing the senator's support in Akoko North West to mere local influence overlooks the extensive grassroots structures, youth groups, women leaders, and traditional institutions that have partnered with his administration.

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Senator Ipinsagba’s service to Ondo North did not begin in 2023, and it will not end with one primary, the result of which is yet to be made public.

The statement further detailed how Ipinsagba's relationships within the National Assembly and with the executive branch have been leveraged to attract federal presence to Ondo North. It also noted the senator's consistent direct interface with constituents through town halls, constituency office hours, and project monitoring. "Senator Ipinsagba’s service to Ondo North did not begin in 2023, and it will not end with one primary, the result of which is yet to be made public," the statement read. It concluded by assuring constituents of the senator's continued commitment to development, youth empowerment, and accountable representation, framing the real contest as being against underdevelopment rather than political opponents.

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The real contest is not between politicians, but between all of us and underdevelopment.