Akinyelure Lands In Akure For Ondo Central Senatorial Bid, Calls For Issue-Based Campaign

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, has urged his supporters to embrace an issue-based campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that no political ambition is worth the life of any constituent.Akinyelure, a two-term Senator who represented Ondo Central in the 7th and 9th National Assemblies, made the call while addressing supporters at his residence in Akure on Wednesday, shortly after returning to the state capital from Abuja.The former lawmaker said his campaign for the Ondo Central senatorial seat would be anchored on his record in office, rather than personal attacks or confrontation with political opponents.He also prayed that his ambition would never result in the loss of any life before, during or after the election.“My prayer is that if this position I’m vying for will lead to the loss of any life among you, may I not win the election. But if my ultimate wish is to lift people up and make everyone comfortable when I get to office, may God grant that wish.“Do not fight or abuse anybody, but rather, let our campaign be issue-based.”The former lawmaker urged his supporters to focus their campaign on his achievements and stewardship as a senator, challenging them to present facts to voters and allow the electorate to make their choice freely.According to him, his campaign in 2019 was focused on his previous four-year record in the Senate. He noted that his interventions during the first term included the provision of vehicles to about 150 people in his constituency, adding that the constituency budget available to him at the time was approximately N221 million annually.Earlier in the day, a sizeable crowd of supporters had gathered at the Akure Airport in a colourful display to welcome the former legislator back to the state to seek another mandate to represent Ondo Central in the National Assembly after a four-year hiatus.Having previously served in the 7th and 9th National Assemblies, he has earned the political sobriquet “Mr Employer” among sections of his constituency, a title associated with what his supporters describe as his contributions to employment generation and economic empowerment.