By NEWSCOUNT Desk
Youths in Ibadan Northwest Local Government have firmly rejected calls by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party urging Governor Seyi Makinde to restrict the party’s next House of Representatives ticket for Ibadan Northwest/Ibadan Southwest Federal Constituency to Ibadan Northwest on the basis of rotation, warning that such a move could hurt the party’s chances at the polls.
The position, coming amid growing conversations within the party, reflects pushback from grassroots supporters against arguments built on local claims rather than electability.
The youths said the renewed pressure on Makinde to adopt zoning runs contrary to the political path that produced his emergence as governor, maintaining that he was not a product of zoning but of broad-based acceptance across the state.
They described the Ibadan Northwest lokan campaign as narrow and risky, insisting that elections, especially in a competitive federal constituency, are won through competence, wide acceptance, and voting strength, not emotional appeals to turn.
They cautioned that if similar sentiments had guided political decisions ahead of the 2019 governorship election, Oyo State might have taken a different path. At the time, leaders from the Oke Ogun axis strongly pushed an Oke Ogun lokan position, citing the zone’s long absence from the governorship since 1999, but the state moved past that moment.
The group said the decision to look beyond zoning and present a candidate with wider appeal proved decisive, leading to Makinde’s emergence and the return of the PDP to power in the state.
According to them, the governor’s rise remains a clear example in the current debate, as his emergence was built on his ability to win support across zones rather than zoning pressure.
They pointed to his record in office, citing road construction and rehabilitation, improvements in the education sector, and expanded healthcare delivery across the state.
They also referenced efforts in security coordination, support for agribusiness, and worker-focused policies, maintaining that these reflect leadership driven by capacity rather than sentiment.
The youths warned that relying on zoning in choosing the party’s candidate for the Ibadan Northwest/Ibadan Southwest federal constituency could weaken the PDP’s position in what they described as a sensitive contest.
They pointed to signs within the opposition All Progressives Congress suggesting the party may field a candidate from Ibadan Southwest, a move they said cannot be ignored.
They noted that Ibadan Southwest has a larger voting population than Ibadan Northwest, stressing that numbers, mobilisation, and reach often decide elections.
According to the group, the APC has avoided pushing zoning arguments, focusing instead on structure and candidate strength.
They also recalled that voters in 2019 elected Makinde shortly after the tenure of Abiola Ajimobi, both from Ibadan, showing that performance and credibility matter more to the electorate than rotation.
The youths said they are ready to support any candidate with the best chance of winning the seat for the PDP, regardless of local government origin.
They maintained that as the next election approaches, the focus must remain on victory, noting that strategy, not sentiment, will decide the outcome.
