APC Aspirant Dr. Janet Adeyemi Champions Sincere Consensus as Optimal Path for Nigeria's 2027 Elections
Dr. Janet Adeyemi, an aspirant for the Ondo South Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has strongly endorsed the consensus mode of primary elections, emphasizing that this approach is the best option for Nigeria as it moves toward the 2027 electoral cycle. Adeyemi, who serves as the president of Women in Mining, contends that a sincerely implemented consensus model will effectively demonetize the political process, thereby ensuring that candidates are selected based on merit rather than financial influence.
Critique of Direct Primaries and Advocacy for Merit-Based Selection
In her assessment, Adeyemi argues that the direct primary system often favors wealthy individuals who can buy their way through the electoral process, undermining the quality of legislative representation. She points out that this system has not consistently brought forth the best minds for governance, as it prioritizes monetary power over competence and vision. To address this, she proposes an interview-style selection panel that would evaluate aspirants against defined criteria, free from emotional biases or personal connections.
"When we've been doing direct primary, has it brought in the best?" Adeyemi questioned, highlighting how excessive money distribution skews outcomes. "If the leadership of the party will be sincere to sit down and come up with values and score those values, just like you go for an interview, set up a group and don't be biased. I believe if we do it rightly, without being biased and not just picking people emotionally, that is still the best consensus for Nigeria now."
Focus on Legislative Excellence and Development Priorities
Adeyemi, an engineer and geologist who represented the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo federal constituency in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003, laments the poor value system in Nigerian politics, where constituents often measure a legislator's success by monetary distributions rather than legislative output or developmental impact. She notes that during her tenure, she passed one of the highest numbers of productive bills, underscoring her commitment to substantive governance.
She further advocates that the Senate should not produce a candidate from the same zone as the sitting governor, asserting that Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo is most deserving of the Ondo South Senate seat. Adeyemi pledges to leverage her experience to advance development priorities, ensuring that Ondo South fully benefits from national programs and investment flows.
Leveraging Experience for Public-Private Partnership Success
Adeyemi emphasizes that Nigeria's development challenges often stem from execution gaps rather than a lack of vision. She aims to bridge this by structuring viable, bankable projects and attracting credible private and international investments. Her work with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has provided hands-on experience in public-private partnership (PPP) projects, enabling her to understand why many fail and how to make them succeed.
"What is often missing in our development journey is not vision, but execution," she stated. "The ability to structure viable, bankable projects; attract credible private and international investment; and translate policy into measurable economic outcomes. This is the gap I seek to fill."
Strategic Choice for the APC and Broader Implications
Adeyemi positions this moment as a strategic crossroads for the APC, urging the party to choose between fielding a candidate focused on traditional politics or one who enhances its image as economically competent and forward-looking. She highlights her international engagements in mining and development, including relationships with global institutions and investors aligned with the World Bank ecosystem, as practical channels for driving investment into Ondo State.
In conclusion, Dr. Janet Adeyemi's advocacy for a sincere consensus model reflects a broader call for political reform in Nigeria, aiming to elevate governance standards and ensure that development initiatives translate into tangible benefits for constituents. Her focus on merit-based selection and PPP-driven development underscores a commitment to transforming Ondo South's economic landscape through strategic leadership and inclusive growth.
