Accord Party candidate for Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has urged constituents to channel their grievances against serving lawmaker Wole Oke into peaceful political mobilisation and voting, following reports that the lawmaker was booed during a political outing in Iloko-Ijesa, Osun State.
Olajengbesi made the appeal in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, alleging that the incident occurred at a gathering where voters were reportedly asked to swear an oath to vote for Oke in exchange for ₦10,000 each.
He claimed that the incident was the third reported hostile reception Oke had encountered in communities across the constituency within two weeks, as the lawmaker seeks re-election for a seventh term in the House of Representatives.
While acknowledging public dissatisfaction with the lawmaker, Olajengbesi condemned the reported public humiliation, saying political disagreements should not result in the mistreatment of candidates.
“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 Honourable Member across communities must be discouraged,” he said.
The lawyer urged constituents who were dissatisfied with Oke’s record to express their grievances through peaceful engagement and the ballot rather than confrontation.
“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.
Olajengbesi also said the lawmaker should be allowed to campaign freely, while constituents should retain the right to question his performance and decide whether to support his re-election.
“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 said.
He called for unity among residents of Ijesa North, warning against allowing political rivalry to damage relationships within communities.
“Ijesa North is our shared home. Long after this election, we will remain neighbours, friends, and family. No political ambition should undermine the peace and dignity of our communities,” Olajengbesi said.
The reported booing and alleged oath-taking arrangement were claims contained in Olajengbesi’s statement. Independent confirmation of the incident and the allegation involving the ₦10,000 payments was not provided in the statement.
