Ikale Youths Development Movement Opposes Alleged Automatic APC Ticket for Jimi Odimayo
By The The The People’s Voice Nigeria News
The Ikale Youths Development Movement has raised concerns over alleged plans to grant an automatic ticket to Hon. Jimi Odimayo for the House of Representatives seat in the Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency ahead of the next general election.
In a press release issued after its general meeting and signed by its President, Comrade Agboola Olatujoye, the group called on the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to respect the existing zoning arrangement within the constituency.
According to the statement, the constituency has, since 1999, operated a political understanding based on the principle that “Irele serves one term while Okitipupa serves two terms.” The group stated that the arrangement was established in recognition of the constituency’s structure, where Okitipupa has two state constituencies while Irele has one.
The movement warned that any attempt to disregard the arrangement through the imposition of an automatic ticket could generate political tension, dissatisfaction among party members, and possible electoral consequences for the APC in the constituency.
The statement also recalled that Hon. Jimi Odimayo had publicly acknowledged the zoning formula during a live appearance on TVC in 2024, where he reportedly affirmed that the constituency operates a rotational arrangement between Okitipupa and Irele.
The group maintained that, based on the established understanding, the House of Representatives ticket for the next election cycle should return to Okitipupa.
Expressing concern over the potential reaction of voters, the Ikale Youths Development Movement stated that many constituents could feel marginalized if the ticket is allocated contrary to the arrangement, adding that such a development could create opportunities for opposition parties during the election.
The group further argued that granting an automatic ticket would undermine democratic principles by denying other aspirants the opportunity to contest and limiting party members’ ability to choose their representative through a transparent process.
Referencing previous political events in Ondo South, the movement recalled the 2015 senatorial election involving Pastor Yele Omogunwa, stating that attempts to go against existing political understandings in the region had previously produced negative electoral outcomes for the APC.
The movement therefore urged the APC national leadership to discontinue any alleged plans to grant an automatic ticket to Hon. Jimi Odimayo and instead uphold what it described as the longstanding zoning arrangement in order to preserve party unity and internal democracy.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the group’s commitment to peace, fairness, and democratic values in the Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency.
