The Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the Ibadan Southwest/Ibadan Northwest Federal Constituency, Opeyemi Fatola, popularly known as “Tesojue,” has commemorated this year’s Democracy Day with a definitive pledge to restructure the relationship between the National Assembly and the electorate by institutionalizing a permanent framework for grassroots engagement.

​In a statement released in Ibadan on Friday, Fatola reflected on the 27-year milestone of Nigeria’s democracy, noting that the historic significance of June 12 must transition from symbolic celebration to a practical shift in legislative accountability. He argued that the current model of representation often leaves constituents feeling marginalized between election cycles, a trend he intends to reverse through a localized, community-centered office.

​The PDP candidate emphasized that his legislative strategy is built upon the creation of dedicated feedback loops and physical constituency platforms designed to ensure that federal interventions are not top-down directives but responses to the specific economic and social needs of the people of Ibadan. According to Fatola, the true “dividend of democracy” is found in the ability of a representative to maintain an active, real-time connection with his base, rather than waiting for the next campaign season to solicit input.

​”The history of June 12 is a testament to the power of the people, and it is a reminder that a mandate belongs to the constituents, not the officeholder,” Fatola stated. “My commitment is to institutionalize a system where every motion I sponsor and every project I advocate for is informed by the direct feedback of the market women, the youth, and the community leaders who are the actual architects of our local economy.”

​Fatola lamented that a lack of structured engagement has hindered the effective delivery of federal projects in the past, leading to a disconnect between legislative focus and the immediate challenges facing the urban poor and small business owners. He pledged that if elected, his office would launch a series of regular town hall meetings and digitized reporting mechanisms, effectively bringing the National Assembly to the doorsteps of the people of Ibadan Southwest and Northwest.

​Fatola’s proposed model for grassroots engagement has already begun to gain significant traction among local voters who have expressed a growing appetite for leaders who prioritize accessibility and transparency. By centering his campaign on the promise of institutionalized accountability, the PDP candidate is positioning himself as a leader dedicated to restoring trust in the legislative process and ensuring that federal presence in Ibadan is synonymous with tangible, community-driven development.