Beyond Party Lines: JDS Pledges Full Backing for OTOPE Ahead of 2027 Egbeda/Ona-Ara Reps Race

The Okanlomo of Oodua double as the Asiwaju of Ona-Ara, Engr. Jubril Dotun Sanusi (JDS), has again thrown his full weight behind the President of OTOPE Foundation, Oloye Ezekiel Temitope Oladimeji (OTOPE) for the Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 elections, declaring that his support is unconditional and transcends political party lines.

Addressing journalists in Ibadan, the respected businessman and grassroots leader stated, “Irrespective of political party, OTOPE has my support and that of my followers in Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency. We will vote for him massively.”

The endorsement is significant not only because of JDS’s considerable political influence across the constituency but also because it deliberately sets aside partisan considerations at a time when political alignments are typically defined by party loyalty.

By pledging the backing of his structure—bolstered by his traditional titles and deep community ties—JDS signals that OTOPE’s candidacy is evolving into a broad-based movement rooted in grassroots confidence rather than mere party affiliation.

Sources close to both leaders reveal that the endorsement was not impulsive but a response to OTOPE’s sustained engagement across the constituency. Over the past year, OTOPE has been quietly but consistently executing empowerment initiatives, including periodic food palliatives for vulnerable households, skills acquisition workshops for youths and women, and direct financial support for small-scale traders across Egbeda and Ona-Ara local government areas.

His open-door approach—maintaining a physical liaison office where constituents freely lodge concerns—has further cemented his reputation as an accessible and responsive leader. These grassroots-focused activities, often carried out without fanfare, have drawn admiration from community stakeholders, including JDS, who views OTOPE’s hands-on style as a model of effective representation.

OTOPE, whose profile has been steadily rising within the constituency, stands to gain substantial organizational momentum from the endorsement, which comes early enough to shape voter sentiment and attract further cross-party support. For many constituents weary of divisive party politics, the show of unity from a leader of JDS’s stature may well frame OTOPE as a consensus candidate focused on effective representation.

With the 2027 elections on the horizon, this declaration underscores a shifting political dynamic in Egbeda/Ona-Ara, where personal credibility and community leadership appear to be taking center stage ahead of party platforms.