Former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele, has declared her intention to contest for the Ondo South Senatorial District seat in the National Assembly, saying her ambition is driven by a desire to advance women’s inclusion in governance and build on existing legislative legacies.
In a statement shared on her verified Facebook page, Akindele said she is offering herself to succeed Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who was appointed as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations by H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The former lawmaker, who once led the state assembly as Speaker, said her aspiration is not only to sustain ongoing representation in the district but also to establish her own legislative footprint in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
She acknowledged the presence of strong political contenders in the race but maintained that her experience in the state legislature, including her emergence as Speaker during her first term, positions her as a capable candidate for the senatorial office.
Akindele also used the opportunity to advocate for greater inclusion of women in political leadership, lamenting what she described as the limited representation of women from Ondo State at the National Assembly level since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
She argued that women have played significant roles in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy and deserve increased opportunities in elective positions, urging stakeholders to support more female participation in governance.
Expressing confidence in the political leadership of the state, she called on the state governor, H.E. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, to continue to support gender inclusion, describing such efforts as a step that would be remembered by history as a boost for women’s political advancement.
Akindele added that despite the competitive nature of the race, she remains optimistic about her chances, expressing confidence that she will emerge victorious at the polls.
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