By Odedele Damilola|ABNews|November 19, 2025
GANMO, KWARA STATE — It was a day filled with emotion, history and uncommon unity as leaders across Kwara South gathered in Ganmo on Thursday, declaring in one voice that Igbomina’s long wait for the Senate seat must end in 2027.
At the Monarchs Luxury Palace Hotel, the usually quiet agitation for fair representation erupted into a powerful collective demand, championed at a high-level summit organised by Omo Ibile Igbomina. The theme of the day;“Igbomina Lokan for Kwara South Senate 2027” — echoed through the hall like a long-suppressed truth finally finding its voice.
“This Is Not Sentiment — It Is Justice,” Leaders Declare
For the Igbomina bloc, the agitation runs deeper than politics. It is a quest for dignity, balance and acknowledgment of their place in the district they have helped shape.
Elder Gabriel Yemi Jimoh, President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, spoke with emotion as he explained how the 1999 Constitution itself — Section 14(3) and (4) — stands behind their demand for equitable representation.
“We are simply asking that what is fair be done,” he said, stressing that Igbomina, despite its population strength and three LGAs, has held the Senate seat for only four years since 1999, compared to 12 years each for Ekiti and Ibolo.
“This is not sentiment; this is justice. This is democracy. This is our time.”
A Moment That Shocked Many: Ekiti and Ibolo Leaders Stand With Igbomina
The most emotional moment of the summit came when leaders from Ekiti and Ibolo blocs rose — unprompted — to endorse the Igbomina demand.
Elder Chief Ayobola Samuel, the Asiwaju of Koro, speaking for Ekiti, said the district must do what is right so that unity does not become an empty word.
From the Ibolo bloc, the Tayese of Offa, Chief Dr. Abdulateef Folorunsho, declared firm support, describing the Igbomina demand as “a moral burden Kwara South must lift.”
Their declaration drew a thunderous applause as many participants were moved by what they called “a rare moment of truth in our politics.”
Women Add a Touch of Culture and Pain
Standing for women politicians, Mrs. Zainab Damilola Abbas from Offa delivered one of the most emotionally charged speeches of the day. Quoting her community’s oriki, she reminded the gathering:
“Omo Laare, buure — we are a just people; no one should overshadow another.”
She described how the Igbomina bloc has endured political exclusion for over 20 years, saying, “Today, we stand with them. Justice must be shared equally.”
Political Leaders, Elders and Activists Join the Wave
Prominent political personalities across party lines added their voices:
— Princess Adebukola Babalola, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor
— Former Speaker, Hon. Babatunde Mohammed
— Hon. AGF Salaudeen
— Former Commissioner Barrister Kayode Towoju
Each person urged Kwara South to embrace fairness and finally heal a long-standing imbalance.
Elder statesmen like Chief James Ayeni of the Kwara South APC Elders’ Caucus, Barrister Peter Olorunisola (SAN), Engr. Adebayo Alao and Comrade AbdulRaoof Bello (Labelabe) also threw their weight behind the cause.
Royal Fathers Seal the Day With Powerful Words
The hall fell silent when the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, HRM Oba Barr. Ismail Yahaya Alebiosu, and the Olomu of Omu-Aran, HRM Oba AbdulRaheem Oladele Adeoti, stepped forward.
With calm authority, they declared:
“The time for the Igbomina nation has come. Let unity lead us to victory in 2027.”
Their blessing marked a turning point; a royal endorsement that transformed the agitation into a region-wide commitment.
A Day That Reshaped the Road to 2027
What began as a summit ended as something more powerful:
A collective pledge.
A reclaiming of identity.
A resolve to correct decades of imbalance.
For the first time in a long time, Kwara South spoke with one voice — a voice rooted in fairness, strengthened by unity and emboldened by the belief that justice delayed must no longer be justice denied.
As participants dispersed, one phrase remained on everyone’s lips:
“Igbomina Lokan.”
Our time has finally come.
