Ado-Odo/Ota APC Aspirant Appeals For Fairness, Reward For Dedication After Years Of Grassroots Service

A chieftain and Aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, Kelani Abolaji, popular as KBJ, has appealed to the party’s leadership to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of loyal grassroots members in the distribution of political opportunities.
Kelani, a member of Sango Ward 4, made the appeal in a statement in which he expressed disappointment over what he described as repeated neglect despite years of commitment to the APC and community development.
He said his political journey had been defined by loyalty to the party, grassroots engagement and personal investment in the welfare of residents across Ado-Odo/Ota.
According to him, he has empowered more than 2,000 indigenes and residents over the past few years, particularly youths, women and elderly members of the community.
Kelani said he also committed significant personal resources to the APC during his first aspiration for the Ogun State House of Assembly, not only campaigning for himself but supporting the electoral interests of other APC candidates across Ado-Odo/Ota and Ogun West.
He alleged that despite those contributions, he received no meaningful recognition when opportunities for political appointments and rewards became available.
“When the time for reward and recognition came, I was completely sidelined. I was forgotten,” he said.
Despite his disappointment, Kelani said he remained within the APC and continued working for the party rather than defecting or publicly confronting its leadership.
He said he subsequently continued to support party programmes, grassroots mobilisation and human capital development without securing an appointment, contract or other formal benefit from the party.
The grassroots mobilizer said he again sought the APC ticket to represent Ado-Odo/Ota Constituency 1 in the Ogun State House of Assembly, maintaining that he followed the party’s procedures and continued to respect its leadership.
He, however, expressed disappointment that he had once again not received the recognition he believed his years of service deserved.
Kelani’s concerns come amid growing political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. Recent reports and social-media activity indicate heightened mobilisation among aspirants seeking elective positions in Ogun State, including the Ado-Odo/Ota State Constituency 1 seat.
While acknowledging that political contests involve competition and that no aspirant is automatically entitled to a party ticket, Kelani argued that sustained grassroots service should remain an important consideration in determining who represents the party.
He also maintained that party leaders are aware of the individuals who consistently engage with voters and communities outside election periods.
“I am not asking the party to reward me simply because I am an aspirant,” his statement suggests. “I am asking that the sacrifices, contributions and genuine grassroots work of loyal party members be given appropriate consideration.”
Kelani nevertheless reaffirmed his commitment to the APC, saying his personal disappointment would not prevent him from working for the party’s electoral success in Ado-Odo/Ota and Ogun State.
He appealed to party leaders at the ward, local government and state levels to develop a political culture in which loyalty, grassroots service, human development and commitment are appropriately recognized.
He warned that failure to acknowledge dedicated grassroots members could weaken the party’s foundation and discourage others from investing their time and resources in party development.
His central message, he said, was not one of rebellion but a call for fairness, justice, recognition and institutional respect for loyal party members.
Kelani concluded by describing himself as a “loyal son of Ado-Odo/Ota” and a faithful member of the APC, pledging to continue working for the success of the party and its candidates.
VOA News was unable to independently verify all of the figures and claims contained in Kelani’s statement, including the number of people he said he had empowered and the extent of his financial contributions to previous political campaigns. The assertions are therefore presented as claims attributed to him.