My father’s political career inspired my senatorial ambition – Olunloyo

The Peoples Democratic Party’s senatorial candidate for Oyo Central, Ayobami Olunloyo, has said his late father’s political career inspired his ambition to serve the people and address the challenges facing his constituency.

Olunloyo, whose late father, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, was a former governor of Oyo State, said his early exposure to politics helped him understand its potential to improve people’s lives, hence his senatorial ambition.

Olunloyo’s father, who died on April 6, 2025, aged 89, was a renowned mathematician, engineer, politician and administrator who held several public offices.

The PDP candidate said he had been involved in politics for years, describing his participation as largely behind the scenes, while his current ambition offered him an opportunity to put his preparation for public office into practice.

Speaking with journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Olunloyo said that, although he had been involved in politics behind the scenes, he had also prepared for public office by attending the School of Politics, Policy and Governance.

This combination, he said, had given him the necessary experience, exposure and expertise to vie for public office.

He said, “Politics has never been something that has been far from me. I’ve always been close to politics. And my father’s opportunity in politics was really one of my inspirations because, at a very, very early part of my life, I recognised that politics has the means to change lives.

“But beyond my family name, I also realised that I must take responsibility and attend to the several needs of the people of my constituency.”

Speaking on the challenges he intended to address, Olunloyo identified security, healthcare and education as fundamental needs of Oyo Central Senatorial District.

He said his policy framework was built around six pillars: work, education, food, healthcare, security and heritage, which, he said, should translate into tangible benefits rather than legislation without a direct impact on citizens.

On healthcare, he claimed that statistics showed that somebody died every 30 minutes in Oyo Central, attributing the deaths to factors including healthcare challenges and accidents. He did not identify the source of the figure.

He said the claim underscored the need to improve healthcare provision in the district, particularly primary healthcare services, so residents would not have to travel long distances to access care.

“Every 30 minutes, someone passes away in Oyo Central as a result of serial social issues of lack of basic social amenities. Before you refer somebody to University College Hospital, there must be a healthcare centre close enough to them,” Olunloyo said.

On education, Olunloyo said improving access should not be limited to building new schools but should include expanding existing facilities and increasing the number of children they could accommodate.

“Education is the antidote to poverty, so it must be accessible,” Olunloyo said.

He also identified security as a priority, arguing that effective responses to insecurity required stronger intelligence gathering, capable law enforcement and a police force sufficiently close to communities facing threats.

On flooding and drainage, the candidate said interventions should reflect the different needs of the district’s 11 local government areas.

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He identified Akinyele and Oluyole as areas where, he said, flood and flash-flood warnings had been issued.

“We will address issues in order of priorities. The 11 LGAs would be my focus. Each of the 11 local government areas has peculiar issues,” Olunloyo said.

He, however, acknowledged that a senator could not directly perform the functions of the executive arm, saying the role would include understanding the underlying problems, pursuing appropriate policies and working with relevant authorities.

Olunloyo said he would seek to make his representation accessible and accountable if elected, promising regular opportunities for constituents across the 11 local government areas to engage with him.

He said that within six months of being elected, the public would be able to assess a register of projects completed and those proposed.

On how he intended to defeat the incumbent senator, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, he said his focus was on campaigning to constituents, whose votes would determine the outcome.

“The incumbent is not our focus. The people are our focus,” he said, adding that voters would decide whether they wanted to retain the existing style of representation or opt for a different approach.

He added, “The people should test us for accountability. We are promising radical transparency. We have values to serve the people, not ourselves.

“There is nothing bad in disclosing to constituents how much is allocated for constituency projects. People should see how their money is being spent,” he said.

While acknowledging his responsibility to deliver constituency projects, he said he would prioritise transparency in their implementation.

He argued that constituency projects should address practical needs, including healthcare, education, water and other basic amenities, while legislation should create longer-term opportunities for development.

On why he chose the PDP despite the party’s challenges, Olunloyo described it as a party with a record of governance and said he believed it had more to offer the country.

“The PDP is one of the only parties right now that is turmoil-free. The PDP is stable. The PDP is one of the greatest parties that Nigeria has experienced, and it is committed to returning to government to serve Nigerians,” Olunloyo said.

He said his choice of the PDP was based on his belief in the party and its capacity to serve the people, adding that his immediate focus was securing the opportunity to represent Oyo Central.

However, the claim comes amid recurring leadership disputes within the party.

In 2026, rival camps aligned with Nyesom Wike and Tanimu Turaki (SAN) contested control of the party, with court proceedings and disputes over recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission forming part of the crisis.

INEC recognised the Wike-aligned leadership in March, while the Turaki camp continued to challenge the situation.