Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Social Democratic Party candidate for Ekiti North Senatorial District, Otunba Peter Obafemi, has said his bid for the Senate in the 2027 general elections is aimed at providing a platform to pursue reforms for national development and improve representation for the people of Ekiti North, declaring that his district's voice must be heard with dignity and authority in Abuja.
Obafemi, who was the SDP candidate in the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, made the declaration in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Friday, October 2, 2026. He said his decision to seek a Senate seat reflected his continued interest in public service despite the outcome of the governorship election. "Representation in the Senate is a serious constitutional platform to champion the structural issues that shape our daily lives in line with the ideals of the SDP," he said. He outlined five priority areas for his proposed legislative agenda: devolution of powers, fiscal oversight, rural infrastructure, youth enterprise, and the role of traditional institutions. On devolution, he said he would support constitutional amendments aimed at decentralising authority and fiscal resources to sub-national and local governments, and would advocate greater legislative oversight of public finances. On rural infrastructure, he promised to pursue legislation and federal intervention projects focused on rural roads, agro-processing facilities, and improved access to capital for farmers and traders across the senatorial district. He also proposed structured federal programmes for vocational training, technology adoption, and enterprise financing as part of efforts to address youth unemployment.
Among his priorities, Obafemi said he would prioritise advocacy for constitutional recognition of traditional institutions, saying such recognition would strengthen the role of traditional rulers in community peace-building and grassroots security. The commitment is consistent with a position he has held for years. In May 2026, ThisDay reported that Obafemi had consistently maintained a visible voice on governance and national issues, publicly criticising poor leadership and advocating stronger constitutional roles for traditional rulers. He urged SDP members and voters in the five local government areas that make up the district — Ikole, Oye, Ido-Osi, Moba and Ilejemeje — to support the party ahead of the 2027 elections. "Our task is clear: to ensure our district's voice is heard with dignity and authority in Abuja. I invite the good people of Ekiti North to join me in this work of purposeful representation," he said.
Obafemi brings to the race a background that is unusual in Nigerian politics. Born in Ikole-Ekiti, he built his career in the United States, establishing Budget TV and Appliances Rental Service Store in East Orange, New Jersey, in the mid-1980s, and later consulting on the launch of Heritage Spas in Brooklyn, New York. His foray into aviation through the establishment of Ritetime World Airways positioned him among a rare class of Nigerian businessmen who have ventured into one of the world's most capital-intensive and heavily regulated industries. ThisDay noted that his supporters argue his combination of entrepreneurial success, international exposure and grassroots appeal positions him as a formidable contender, representing a growing desire among voters for a different style of leadership rooted not solely in career politics but in practical experience, economic understanding and proven executive capacity. His over three decades of involvement in international business, aviation and public advisory work, he said, had shaped his understanding of the economic and social needs of the five local government areas in the district.
The SDP candidate's intervention comes amid a charged political atmosphere in Ekiti State. In September 2026, Obafemi condemned the vandalisation of the campaign office of Dr Funso Ayeni, the African Democratic Congress candidate for the same senatorial seat, describing the act as disturbing, painful and alien to the peaceful political culture Ekiti North is known for. "My heart is heavy over this report from our own Ekiti North. We are brothers and sisters before politics. No political ambition is worth the tears or blood of our people," he said. He called on security agencies to investigate the incident and urged all political leaders, candidates and supporters to rise above provocation and place the unity of Ekiti above partisan interests. The appeal came as the 2027 elections approach, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6. Obafemi's emphasis on peaceful, issue-based electioneering has been a recurring theme of his campaign.
The race for Ekiti North is shaping up to be competitive. The incumbent, Senator Cyril Fasuyi of the All Progressives Congress, won the APC primary in May 2026, defeating three other aspirants. Dr Funso Ayeni, a former governorship aspirant and chieftain of the ADC, secured his party's ticket unopposed, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress has also fielded candidates across the state's three senatorial districts. The district comprises five local government areas and has a history of political independence, with Ekiti's electorate repeatedly demonstrating a willingness to prioritise perceived competence and credibility above party supremacy. That political culture, ThisDay noted, could prove advantageous for a candidate like Obafemi, whose personal story and business achievements provide strong talking points across communities.
The SDP itself has been positioning as an alternative to the dominant parties, with National Chairman Professor Sadiq Gombe declaring in September 2026 that the party had activated its structures nationwide and would contest all elective positions in the 2027 elections, including the presidency, 109 senate seats, 360 House of Representatives seats, 28 governorships and 1,015 state assembly seats. The party held its national convention in Abuja in September, consolidating its manifesto behind presidential candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo. For Obafemi, the SDP's platform offers an opportunity to present himself as a reform-driven candidate outside the traditional political establishment, a positioning that aligns with the growing public frustration with conventional politics across Nigeria.
For the people of Ekiti North, the coming months will determine whether Obafemi's message of purposeful representation, constitutional reform and grassroots development resonates with voters. His campaign has emphasised accessibility, grassroots engagement and a commitment to peaceful politics, themes that align with the SDP's progressive heritage and the electorate's demonstrated independence. As Obafemi put it, the task is clear: to ensure the district's voice is heard with dignity and authority in Abuja. Whether that message translates into electoral success will be determined at the polls on January 16, 2027.
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