Concerned Youths of Akoko Northwest Local Constituency II, have thrown their weight behind the choice of Hon. Olumide Araoyinbo as sole aspirant for Akoko NW constituency 2, to fill the vacant seat of the Akoko North-East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The seat of the federal constituency became vacant following the resignation of the former elected representative of the constituency, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who was appointed as the Minister for Interior by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement signed and made available to Journalists in Akure on Friday by the leader of the Youths, Balogun Emmanuel said the candidate to fill the vacant seat must be picked from their constituency saying plan against their wish might not be good for any of the parties.
The statement reads: "The concerned youth stakeholders of Akoko Northwest Local government Constituency 2 have come together with a shared vision and purpose. In an effort to promote fairness and equal representation, we have made a collective decision to support any political party that selects its candidate from our constituency in the upcoming bye-election.
"While acknowledging the exceptional qualifications of all the aspirants from the Akoko North Federal Constituency, we firmly believe that it is essential to give due consideration to each of the sub-local government areas within our constituency.
"Our united stance advocates for the inclusion of Ogbagi, Irun, Ese, and Afin in the process of selecting the next member of the House of Representatives to represent the Akoko Northwest Local Constituency, in the Federal House of Representatives."
They emphasised that the collective decision to rally behind local candidates stems from their drive to ensure that the voices and interests of every sub-local government area are adequately represented.
"Having waited this much deliberating with critical political stakeholders within and outside our constituency, and now that INEC timetable for the by-election has been set for next year January, it is done on us that the waiting game must come to conclusion.
" Reports reaching us from the two major Political Parties (APC and PDP) has been very encouraging and in tandem with our collective aspiration for our constituency. The aspirants and leadership of the rulling Party(APC) made a bold decision to elect Hon. Olumide Araoyinbo as the sole aspirant for Akoko NW constituency 2 for the coming by-election, while we are still waiting for a categorical statement from major opposition party (PDP) regarding the chances of our constituency in the coming election."
The youths noted that, rising from it's recent stakeholders meeting, they observed that further Waiting on aspirant issues is dangerous, as the election day is very close for comfort.
"The chances of getting the major opposition party (PDP) ticket zone to a formidable aspirant from Akoko NW Constituency 2 is becoming slim by the day.
"Even the major opposition party finanancial wherewithal to muscle out the rulling party in the coming bye-election is not feasible, and we are very sensitive to any factor that can geopardise our constituency chances in the coming by-election."
The Youths stressed that itis on the bases of the above, they "decided to support the decision of the All Progressives choice of Hon. Olumide Araoyinbo as sole aspirant for Akoko NW constituency 2.
"Hon. Olumide Araoyinbo for House of Representatives ambition is now our collective ambition in Akoko NW Constituency 2."
They emphasised that they would mobilize their members to start House to House campaign among APC stakeholders in the constituency, so as to ensure that all votes from Akoko NW Constituency 2 come together on the day of primary election.
"In conclusion, we respectfully put forth our request to the general public, as well as party leaders, to consider our stance and support our appeal for free and fair primary and general election, to avoid anything that can plunge our federal constituency into total kiosk due to this coming bye-election.
"We urge all political parties, especially All Progressives Congress (APC)to consider the voices of the people and affirm our plea for a fair and equal representation in the structural political identities across our federal constituency."
