Right Honourable Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, a senior figure in the House of Representatives, used an interview at the venue on Thursday to reaffirm his status as a committed party operative and to argue that his political standing in the Ifo and Ewekoro areas remains secure. Speaking in an emotional tone, he said his continued relevance is rooted in long-term community acceptance and a record of contesting internal party primaries.
Introducing himself, Isiaka identified his role within Nigeria’s National Assembly, saying he serves as a principal officer in the House of Representatives. He added that, by virtue of his position within the chamber’s leadership structure, he is the fourth highest-ranking officer in the House and the sixth among the chamber’s 360 members.
Isiaka then revisited his political history, portraying his career as one marked by repeated engagement with primary elections rather than reliance on handouts. He said he has consistently sought nomination through the party’s internal processes and has not pursued special treatment, particularly with respect to representation between Ifo and Ewekoro.
He emphasized that this is his third consecutive term in the House of Representatives, stating that he has not been issued a ticket without contest. In his account, he has always pursued candidacy through primaries and that there has been no behind-the-scenes agreement to rotate or “zone” political positions between the two local government areas.
Addressing questions about his influence and the level of support he commands, Isiaka rejected assertions that residents of Ifo oppose his continued representation. He urged independent verification, calling on journalists to consult a broad range of local voices, including market leaders, religious leaders, youth groups, and other community stakeholders in Ifo.
“I want journalists to conduct independent investigations. Go to the market leaders, religious leaders, youth groups, and community stakeholders in Ifo and ask them who Isiaka is,” he said.
The lawmaker also pointed to a set of projects he says he helped deliver over the years, describing them as evidence of developmental impact in Ifo Local Government. Among the areas he cited were educational facilities, environmental efforts, and community improvement initiatives, with particular attention to what he described as a major canal project in Ifo designed to reduce flood-related deaths.
According to Isiaka, for nearly three decades people had been losing their lives connected to the canal, and his intervention began when he became chairman of the Ecological Fund Committee. He said he initiated the construction of a three-kilometre canal, adding that residents of Ifo continue to recall the contribution.
“For almost 30 years, people were dying in that canal. When I became Chairman of the Ecological Fund Committee, I initiated the construction of a three-kilometre canal. The people of Ifo still remember that contribution till today,” he said.
Isiaka further linked his political influence to the advancement of the All Progressives Congress in Ifo and Ewekoro, arguing that his local structure has been a major factor in the party’s performance during earlier election cycles. He singled out the 2023 election outcome, saying his votes played a decisive role in securing a substantial lead for the APC over the opposition.
He claimed: “In the 2023 elections, my votes alone gave APC a lead of over 12,000 votes over the opposition. Those are verifiable records.”
2027 governorship contest item
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A separate headline item circulated alongside the interview asserts that, for the 2027 governorship race, the House of Representatives deputy chief whip Isiaka is coordinating a large turnout for Yayi in Ewekoro.
