APC primaries: Youths kick against Ajuloopin, say it is Ekiti’s turn

Political tension rose in Omu-Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Saturday following a protest by aggrieved youths and stakeholders over what they described as prolonged political domination in the Ekiti/Oke Ero/Irepodun/Isin Federal Constituency.

The protesters accused the camp of the incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Raheem Tunji Ajuloopin, of sustaining what they termed a “one-family political structure” in the constituency for over 27 years.

The demonstration, captured in several videos circulating on social media and obtained by our correspondent, showed youths openly rejecting the existing political arrangement and calling for broader inclusion.

The protesters, mainly youths, alleged that political opportunities in the constituency had been concentrated within a single bloc, to the detriment of other communities, particularly the Ekiti axis.

They also insisted that the area had been politically marginalised despite its contributions to the development of the constituency.

During the protest, chants of “Ekiti Lokan” rang out across parts of Omu-Aran as the demonstrators demanded fairness, equity, and wider political inclusion ahead of future elections.

Some of the protesters further alleged that successive political representation in the constituency had failed to reflect balance among the various communities.

They also criticised the performance of the incumbent lawmaker, claiming that there had been limited constituency projects and inadequate federal presence in several communities.

One of the protesters, speaking in one of the viral videos, said the agitation was driven by the need for justice and equal participation rather than personal grievances.

“We are tired of recycled representation. Democracy should not be about one group holding on to power endlessly while others are treated as outsiders in their own constituency,” he said.

Another youth said residents had become frustrated over what he described as years of political exclusion and lack of meaningful development.

The protest has further highlighted growing political tensions within the constituency ahead of preparations for the next electoral cycle.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the lawmaker’s camp were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.