By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Chairman, Ogun State Caucus of the National Assembly, and Senator representing Ogun West, has formally endorsed Princess Sola Elegbeji as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the House of Representatives seat in Remo Federal Constituency, describing her as “the right choice at the right time.”
Other political parties including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which had held the seat in the past, ACCORD Party (AP) among others are in the race to claim the seat.
The Accord Party House of Representatives candidate for the Remo Federal Constituency, Hon. Oke Rotimi Michael, for example had pledged to address the perennial flood challenges facing residents and people of the constituency’s three local governments – Sagamu, Remo North and Ikenne.
Oke who had also sympathized with victims of a recent flood disaster that hit a large swathe of Remoland following hours – long heavy downpour, blamed the occurrence of the “calamity” on the absence of proper drainage systems, erosion control, and well-planned layout by the government — town planning authority.
He vowed that the ugly trend must never be allowed to continue if elected on August 16 to represent the area in the 10th National Assembly, pledging to advocate for a direct federal intervention through NEMA, and the Ecological Fund Office to provide relief materials and compensation to the victims.
According to him, he will also suggest major drainage and flood-control mechanism as his constituency project proposals, targeting vulnerable areas around Sagamu, Ikenne, and Remo North if elected.
“This is not an election about winning a seat, but an election about standing up for the people, fighting for our communities, and being heard where it matters.
“As we get ready to go out and vote for the bye-election on August 16, I call on all constituents: vote for capacity, compassion, and commitment. Vote for a future where your safety, your property, and your hard work are respected and protected.
“Together, we will rebuild. Together, we will rise. Together, we will restore Remo,” he told The Daily Crucible recently.
However, the endorsement of Sola Elegbeji by Senator Adeola comes as the APC prepares for the by-election to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga (Ijaya), a beloved lawmaker whose legacy of service, empowerment, and grassroots engagement remains deeply etched in the hearts of her constituents.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Senator Adeola, attested to the credentials of Princess Elegbeji, describing her as “an apostle of the progressive doctrines of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo,” and “a true scion of Remo Federal Constituency whose political philosophy is rooted in service, equity, and enlightenment.”
“Princess Sola Elegbeji is not just a candidate—she is a continuation of a legacy,” Adeola said. “She has subscribed fully to the tenets of the Renewed Hope Agenda as championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun. Her emergence is a convergence of history, competence, and vision.”
The Senator emphasized that Elegbeji’s longstanding relationship with the late Hon. Onanuga was not merely political, but deeply collaborative. “They shared a bond of purpose. Princess Elegbeji was a quiet force behind many of the constituency initiatives we now celebrate. Her pledge to expand the Remo Youth Skills Empowerment Programme is not a campaign promise—it is a personal mission.”
Adeola, said the Ogun State Caucus of the National Assembly Caucus has noted that Elegbeji’s candidacy enjoys the full backing of the party’s leadership, the strategic support of the Presidency, and the confidence of the state government.
“She is trusted by the party, respected by the people, and prepared for the task ahead,” he said.
“Her understanding of federal legislative dynamics, her grassroots appeal, and her unwavering loyalty to progressive ideals make her the ideal representative for Remo at this time.”
Party stakeholders have hailed the endorsement as a unifying moment, describing Princess Elegbeji as a bridge between the legacy of Awolowo, the transformative energy of Tinubu, and the developmental vision of Governor Abiodun.
“She is the embodiment of continuity and capacity,” Adeola added. “Her candidacy is not just about winning a seat—it’s about securing the future of Remo Federal Constituency. She will speak with clarity, legislate with courage, and serve with compassion.”
The Senator also called on all APC members, youth organizations, women groups, and community leaders in Remo North, Sagamu, and Ikenne to rally behind her candidacy, urging them to honor the memory of Hon. Onanuga by entrusting her legacy to capable hands.
“This election is a defining moment. Princess Sola Elegbeji is the woman for the job. I stand firmly with her,” Adeola concluded.
The Remo Federal Constituency by-election is scheduled for this weekend, with APC leaders expressing confidence that Elegbeji’s candidacy will deliver a decisive victory and usher in a new era of responsive, progressive representation.
But the PDP candidate for the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency by-election, Hon. Bola Oluwole, a major contender in the race, has berated the APC) candidate, Adesola Elegbeji, over her controversial call for a constitutional amendment that would allow political parties to retain legislative seats without elections in the event of a lawmaker’s death.
PDP’s Oluwole described the proposal as undemocratic, self-serving and a threat to the core values of Nigeria’s electoral system.
According to him, “amending the existing law now or latter to suit a party’s convenience is like shifting the goalpost in the middle of a match,” Oluwole stated.
“Democracy thrives on the will of the people. The fact that a particular party won a previous election does not mean that position becomes its permanent birthright. The people must always have a say.”
Hon. Oluwole was responding to comments by Elegbeji in Abeokuta, where the APC candidate lamented that her party should not be made to go through another electoral contest following the unfortunate death of their lawmaker, the late Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga, who passed away earlier this year.
Elegbeji had described the by-election as “double punishment” for the APC and suggested that political parties should, in the future, be allowed to simply “appoint a replacement without going through an election.”
But Oluwole condemned the suggestion as a veiled attempt to bypass the democratic process and impose candidates on the people.
“If they truly believe they are popular, why are they afraid of a fair contest?” Oluwole asked.
“Every seat must be contested based on competence, integrity and the capacity to deliver, not handed over like a family inheritance.”
He added that the Constitution and Electoral Act were never designed to protect political parties but to protect the rights and sovereignty of the electorates.
“This by-election is not a reward for grief, it is a duty to democracy,” he said.
“Let the people decide. That’s what democracy is all about.”
Asiwaju Bola Oluwole urged the people of the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency to reject any attempt to manipulate the electoral process and to use the upcoming August 16 by-election to assert their power through the ballot box.
“This is not about party politics alone, It is about protecting our democracy from the hands of those who wish to weaken it for their selfish interests.
