Ijesha North 2027: Pelumi Olajengbesi and the Burden of Expectations

Femi Adesola

 

Ijesha North 2027:“You asked for it, now you have it. What are you going to do with it?” This line is from a song by Gwen stafani and swiss beats released in 2006. Now that Pelumi is about to clinch his party’s ticket, what is he going to do with it? That is the question the political watchers in Ijesha North are asking? As the political dynamics of Ijesha North continue to evolve following the high-profile defection of Hon. Wole Oke from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). His exit has left a vacuum, and by all indications, that space is now expected to be filled potentially by Pelumi Olajengbesi a younger, less-tested political actor expecting to fill in the big shoe of the so called Ijesha North ‘Landlord’.

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Pelumi, a legal practitioner and one-time aspirant for the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency seat, has long nursed political ambitions in the region. Since 2019, he has waited in the shadows and allegedly asked to defer his aspirations for Wole Oke’s bid for the speakership position of the House of Representatives. A dummy that was sold to the party faithful. According to Pelumi, Hon. Oke had privately assured him that he would not be seeking re-election in 2027 and would throw his full weight, networks, resources, and loyal foot soldiers behind him. But that gentleman’s agreement is now in the mud.

Wole Oke, feeling betrayed and side lined by the current administration, has pointed fingers at Pelumi, accusing him of sponsoring petitions over abandoned constituency projects. His grievances stretch beyond that, alleging marginalization of his constituency by the Adeleke administration, not getting required support from the Governor to clinch the required committee chairmanship, non-selection of his PA as the Chairmanship candidate of the party in the local government, and the controversial appointment of a non-indigene traditional ruler in his hometown. These, he claims, are among the reasons for his defection to the APC.

With Wole Oke now out of the PDP, the party’s 2027 ticket appears destined for Pelumi. But having the ticket is only the first chapter in a long and gruelling battle. The more pressing question now is: Can he win? He has been berated by some analyst that he failed to win his state constituency in Oriade a single local government when tested with a State assembly ticket in 2019 not to talk of Obokun where his so-called adversary comes from. Esa Oke where Wole oke hails from has the highest voting strength in Obokun with up to 5000 voting strength just like Ijebu Ijesha in Oriade of more than 5000 votes where Pelumi hails from.

Pelumi is not just up against any former lawmaker. He is squaring off against an institution, the so-called ‘landlord’ of Obokun/Oriade federal constituency. Wole Oke has held the seat for over 20 years. He has entrenched himself deep in the social, political, and economic fabric of Ijesha North. From securing federal jobs to social welfare and empowerment programs, his influence cuts across age and class. For many, Wole Oke is not just a politician. He’s a benefactor to some.

To dethrone such a deeply rooted figure, Pelumi Olajengbesi will need more than ambition and party backing. He will need strategy, grit, and a massive grassroots operation. He must begin by doing the hard work: building trust, forging alliances, and establishing a visible presence in every ward. Door-to-door campaigns, direct engagement with youth, women groups, opinion leaders, and traditional rulers in the constituency.

He must also define what he brings to the table beyond youthful energy and intellectual prowess. What is his message? What are his plans for development? How will he surpass the records or at least match the legacy of Oke?

Pelumi bears the dual burden of delivering for the PDP in the 2026 governorship election and proving that his potential selection was not a political miscalculation. Failure to win in 2026 Governorship and 2027 general election would raise questions about the PDP’s judgment and could weaken the party’s grip in Ijesha North.

Politics in Obokun/Oriade is no longer business as usual. With the growing influence of the APC, with defection of Wole oke and the cracks within the PDP. Pelumi must not only campaign like an underdog; he must fight like a man who understands that the hopes of a generation and the legitimacy of his party’s decisions rest on his shoulders. He must go from Ikiniwa to Ilahun, Ilase to EsaOdo, from Ada Owode to Ibokun, Ipetu Ile, Eti Oni, Imesi Ile, Otan Ile from Owena Ijesha to Erin Oke, Ipetu Ijesha to Ijeda, Iloko, Iwoye, Ipoti, Dagbaja, Erin ijesha and all the nooks and crannies’ of Obokun/Oriade and preach the gospel of his candidacy and his party like his life depends on it.

The road ahead is daunting but not insurmountable. Through hard work, strategic planning, and relentless grassroots engagement, Pelumi Olajengbesi can rise to the occasion. But he must relocate from Abuja to Ijebu-Jesa without delay, roll up his sleeves, and prove to the people that he is not just a candidate but a committed leader who is truly on ground.