Ondo South: A case for a credible candidate
In the unfolding democratic journey of Ondo State, few figures command the quiet reverence and unmistakable stature of Jumoke Akindele, the first and only female Speaker in the history of
- By Tayo Ogungbemi
In the unfolding democratic journey of Ondo State, few figures command the quiet reverence and unmistakable stature of Jumoke Akindele, the first and only female Speaker in the history of the Ondo State House of Assembly. And as the contest for the Ondo South Senatorial seat gathers momentum, with a crowded field of aspirants, one principle must rise above partisan calculations and sentiment: merit, proven leadership, and integrity.
At moments like this, politics must give way to judgment. Leadership, after all, is not a reward for ambition alone; it is a responsibility earned through performance.
By every credible measure, Ondo South Senatorial District, and indeed Ondo State, has in Akindele a personality whose record stands out. Gender, in this instance, is incidental. What matters is competence. And competence, in her case, is not theoretical but tested, demonstrated, and remembered.
A trained lawyer and alumna of Obafemi Awolowo University, Akindele built a professional career before venturing into politics in 2006. She contested her first election in 2007, lost, returned stronger, and won election into the Ondo State House of Assembly in 2011, representing Okitipupa Constituency II.
That trajectory matters. It speaks to resilience, growth, and a willingness to earn leadership the hard way, not inherit it.Within the Assembly, she quickly distinguished herself, rising to chair the House Committee on Education before emerging Speaker on May 27, 2015, following the death of the incumbent.
Her emergence was not symbolic. It was competitive. She secured the position through a democratic contest, defeating other contenders to become the first, and only woman to date, to preside over the legislative arm in Ondo State.
And once in office, she did not merely occupy the chair but gave it needed weight.
As Speaker, one of the most powerful constitutional offices in the state, she brought discipline, clarity, and intellectual rigour to legislative business. Her command of proceedings, strength in debate, and ability to build consensus across divides earned her the respect of colleagues and observers alike.
In a system where leadership is often loud but light, her style was quiet but firm. She proved that authority does not always need to shout to be heard.
Those who witnessed her tenure still speak of a legislature that worked - where deliberations had depth and decisions had direction. Her speakership did not just manage the Assembly; it elevated it. And in doing so, she set a standard that has endured beyond her tenure.
But excellence, particularly in our political climate, is rarely without resistance. It sometimes attracts envy rather than applause. This played out when a new administration sought to neutralise her influence; it chose the familiar weapon of unsubstantiated corruption allegations. She resigned with dignity. But then came a moment unprecedented in the annals of the Ondo State House of Assembly: her colleagues, men and women who had worked with her, rose above politics and, after thorough deliberation, passed a formal resolution exonerating her of any wrongdoing.
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It needs to be emphasised that even in that moment, her response was measured. Rather than inflame tensions, she chose the path of restraint by stepping aside in the interest of institutional stability. At the end, even when there is a difference between losing power and losing dignity, it became obvious she lost neither.
What is often overlooked in the retelling of that episode is the broader context: political turbulence is not uncommon in legislative institutions. What distinguishes leaders is not the absence of crisis, but the manner in which they confront it. On that score, Akindele demonstrated composure under pressure, an attribute that remains indispensable in higher legislative responsibilities.
Beyond the Assembly, her professional grounding as a legal practitioner of decades has reinforced her commitment to due process, accountability, and institutional order. In a Senate that increasingly demands depth, experience, and clarity of thought, these are not optional qualities, they are essential.
This is why the conversation about Ondo South must rise above routine permutations. The stakes are higher than political convenience. The Senate is not a ceremonial chamber; it is a crucible of national policy, debate, and direction. It is not enough to occupy a seat; one must justify it.
To political stakeholders in Ondo South, Akure, Abuja, and beyond, this moment calls for statesmanship. It is an opportunity to demonstrate that merit still counts, that integrity still matters, and that experience still has value in our democratic process.
Supporting Akindele will not be about tokenism. It will not be about making history for the sake of optics. It will be about recognising capacity when it presents itself. The general consensus is that Ondo South deserves more than representation, it deserves distinction. It deserves a senator whose presence commands respect, whose voice carries weight, and whose record inspires confidence among constituents and colleagues alike.
From Idepe, Okitipupa, her place of birth into royalty, to the broader political landscape, Akindele’s journey has been defined by perseverance, service, and achievement. She has built networks, nurtured relationships, and maintained relevance across different phases of public life. Her story is not one of sudden emergence, but of steady ascent.
The choice before Ondo South is therefore straightforward. It is a choice between routine politics and demonstrable excellence; between the familiar and the proven. At a time when the demand for credible leadership is more urgent than ever, this is not a decision that should be taken lightly. History has a way of remembering moments when the right choice was clear, but ignored. This should not be such a time.
Ondo South stands at such a moment when the path forward is neither complicated nor obscure: the time to choose experience over experiment, substance over sentiment, and proven leadership over political convenience.
In Jumoke Akindele, Ondo South does not merely have an aspirant but a credible candidate. It has a tested, trusted, and compelling choice. And rare, clear, and consequential opportunities like this are not meant to be missed.
•Ogungbemi, a legal practitioner writes from Igbodigo, Okitipupa
