Protest Rocks Egbeda/Ona-Ara as Youths Oppose Alleged Third-Term Bid of Akin Alabi

Protest Rocks Egbeda/Ona-Ara as Youths Oppose Alleged Third-Term Bid of Akin Alabi

By Faleye Oluwatosin Simon

Tension has escalated in Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency of Oyo State following a protest by youths opposing 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 Demand Leadership Rotation

The protesters, who took to major streets within the constituency, argued that after two terms — spanning eight years — leadership should rotate to allow for fresh representation and new ideas.

Carrying placards with inscriptions calling for accountability, transparency and measurable development, the demonstrators alleged that infrastructure projects and empowerment initiatives across parts of the constituency have not met expectations.

Some residents who addressed journalists during the protest expressed concerns over what they described as limited grassroots engagement and inadequate visibility of constituency projects.

Allegations Amid National Debate

The protest comes against the backdrop of national discussions surrounding lawmakers’ constituency project allocations, particularly following the removal of petrol subsidy.

At a recent media and civil society roundtable organised by the International Press Center in Abuja, House spokesperson dismissed claims of increased constituency allocations as unfounded, attributing the reports to political actors dissatisfied with previous electoral outcomes.

Separately, comments by Ayodele Asaolu had alleged significant increases in funding for lawmakers’ projects, claims that have been refuted by official representatives of the House of Representatives.

Governance Debate Deepens

Critics within Egbeda/Ona-Ara insist that representation should be evaluated based on tangible development, accessibility and sustained engagement with constituents. They argue that legislative performance must translate into visible community impact and regular communication.

However, supporters of Alabi maintain that his legislative experience, committee leadership and private sector background position him to attract federal presence and execute impactful projects for the constituency.

As political activities gradually intensify ahead of the next election cycle, the unfolding debate in Egbeda/Ona-Ara reflects broader conversations across Nigeria on performance, accountability and leadership succession within the National Assembly.