Pelumi Olajengbesi, the Accord Party candidate for the Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, has urged residents of Ijesa North to remain peaceful following reports that the incumbent lawmaker, Wole Oke, was booed during a political outing in Iloko-Ijesa.
Olajengbesi said the reported incident followed allegations that voters were asked to swear an oath to support Oke in exchange for ₦10,000 each. The allegation has not been independently verified.
In a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, the lawyer said the incident was reportedly the third occasion in two weeks that the lawmaker had encountered a hostile reception in communities within the constituency.
Oke, who represents the constituency in the House of Representatives, is seeking another term in office.
While acknowledging what he described as growing dissatisfaction among constituents, Olajengbesi cautioned against publicly humiliating political figures, insisting that grievances over leadership and performance should be expressed through peaceful and democratic means.
“While I acknowledge the dissatisfaction and disappointment of our people, publicly humiliating a political figure like Wole Oke is not the right approach. The reported hostile receptions confronting the Honorable Member across communities must be discouraged,” he said.
Olajengbesi urged residents to channel their concerns into political mobilisation and use the ballot to determine whether the incumbent deserves another mandate.
“However we feel about poor performance or a leader’s prolonged stay in office, the ballot remains the proper means of removing a leader whose time we believe is up. Let us channel our dissatisfaction into peaceful mobilisation and express our judgment on Election Day,” he added.
The Accord candidate maintained that constituents had the right to scrutinise Oke’s record, demand accountability and decide whether to support his re-election bid.
He also argued that political candidates should be allowed to campaign freely, while voters must be able to question their promises and reject them without fear or intimidation.
“Hon. Wole Oke, like every candidate, should be free to campaign in our communities. Our people must equally be free to listen, ask difficult questions, withhold support, and vote according to their conscience,” he stated.
Olajengbesi concluded by appealing to residents and political supporters to protect the peace and unity of the area, regardless of their political affiliations.
He noted that political contests were temporary, while the relationships among residents would continue long after the elections.
“Ijesa North is our shared home. Long after this election, we will remain neighbors, friends, and family. No political ambition should undermine the peace and dignity of our communities,” he said.
The appeal comes amid heightened political activity in the constituency ahead of the next election, with questions over representation, accountability and the conduct of political campaigns likely to remain central to engagement between candidates and voters.
The allegation surrounding the reported ₦10,000 payment and oath-taking remains a claim contained in Olajengbesi’s statement and should be independently established before being treated as fact.
