Stakeholders, youths, students and union representatives from Ife-North local government council area of Osun State have demanded the zoning of the 2027 House of Representatives ticket of the All Progressives Congress and Accord Party to the area.
The demand was made in a statement issued during a press conference convened by a coalition of Ife-North indigenes, both within Nigeria and in the diaspora, who decried what they described as decades of political exclusion on Monday.
Speaking at the briefing, the Coalition Chairman, Bolaji Olabode, said the call was a matter of justice and equitable representation within the Ife Federal Constituency.
“This is not a plea—it is a demand rooted in justice. Ife-North has waited long enough. Our relevance must go beyond elections into actual representation,” Olabode stated.
Another stakeholder, Emmanuel Oderinola, highlighted what he described as a disparity between the area’s contributions and its political rewards.
“There is a clear imbalance—our contributions to the economy and elections are significant, yet development and opportunities remain minimal,” he said.
The coalition noted that Ife North, despite its size and population, had not produced a member of the House of Representatives or secured key appointive positions since its creation in 1989.
Representing student interests, Olalekan Johnson, also known as Idera, called for unity among residents to push the demand forward.
“This is the moment to convert our numbers into influence. We must stand together and demand our rightful place,” he said.
A youth leader, Babalola Taiwo also underscored the urgency of the situation, describing it as generational marginalisation.
“A whole generation is being sidelined. What we face is not a lack of capacity, but a system designed to exclude,” Taiwo said.
The Coalition Secretary, Akinnibi Miftahudeen, said the demand cut across party affiliations and was centred on fairness.
“This is about fairness and equity. No political structure can remain credible while systematically excluding a people,” he said.
Also speaking, a student leader, Oluwafemi Oladele, popularly known as Fresh, indicated readiness among young people to take action.
“We are ready to mobilise. The next phase will not be passive—we will be active participants in shaping our future,” he said.
The coalition called for the immediate zoning of the 2027 House of Representatives ticket to Ife-North by both parties, as well as the establishment of a transparent zoning framework within the constituency.
It also urged Ife Central, Ife East and Ife South local governments to support what it described as a new order based on justice and balanced representation, warning that it would mobilise to ensure its demands are met.
