Faleye Oluwatosin Simon,
Lagos
Tension heightened in Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency of Oyo State as youths took to the streets to protest what they described as an alleged plan by Hon. Akinola Adekunle Alabi to seek a third term in the House of Representatives.
Alabi, an entrepreneur and author, is currently serving his second term in the 10th National Assembly, representing Egbeda/Ona-Ara. A ranking member of the House, he chairs the Committee on Works. He is also the founder of NairaBET and owner of Lekki United F.C.
Youths Reject “Extended Stay”
During the street demonstration, protesters argued that after completing two terms — amounting to eight years — leadership should rotate to allow fresh representation and new ideas.
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Placards displayed during the protest carried messages demanding accountability, transparency, and measurable development outcomes. Some demonstrators alleged that infrastructure projects and empowerment initiatives in parts of the constituency have not met expectations.
Several residents who spoke during the protest expressed concerns about what they described as limited grassroots engagement and insufficient visibility of constituency projects.
Allegations and Counterclaims
The development comes amid broader national conversations surrounding lawmakers’ constituency project allocations, particularly following the removal of petrol subsidy.
At a media and civil society roundtable organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in Abuja, House spokesperson Akin Rotimi dismissed claims of increased constituency allocations as false, attributing the reports to political actors dissatisfied with previous electoral outcomes.
Separately, comments by Ayodele Asalu had alleged significant increases in funding for lawmakers’ projects. However, official representatives of the House have refuted those claims.
Governance Debate Intensifies
Critics within Egbeda/Ona-Ara maintain that performance should be assessed based on tangible impact, accessibility, and sustained community engagement. They argue that representation must translate into visible development and consistent communication with constituents.
Supporters of Alabi, however, point to his legislative experience, committee leadership.
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