The E4 Development Advocates, a coalition of community leaders and stakeholders, has endorsed the re-election of Bamidele Salam to the House of Representatives, citing his legislative performance and commitment to equitable representation across the Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency.
During a press conference held on Tuesday, the group Cordinator, Dr. Ogundeji Awoniyi described the endorsement as “sensible, just, and equitable,” noting that Salam has distinguished himself in the 10th National Assembly.
According to the coalition, he was ranked among the top 20 most productive lawmakers by ERGAF-AFRICA’s Legislative Productivity Index, recording 33 legislative actions in a single session.
The group highlighted a range of constituency projects credited to the lawmaker, including the construction of over 100 classroom blocks across 25 schools, bursary awards to more than 3,000 students, and empowerment initiatives reaching over 20,000 constituents in areas such as ICT, agriculture, and digital enterprise.
Other interventions listed include the provision of solar-powered boreholes and streetlights, rural electrification projects, distribution of transformers, and the construction of public infrastructure such as town halls, ICT centres, and a police station.
On the issue of political balance, the coalition dismissed claims of marginalisation within the constituency, stating that Ejigbo Local Government has enjoyed fair representation since 1999.
It noted that the House of Representatives seat has rotated among the constituent local governments, with Ejigbo producing representatives on more than one occasion.
The statement also pointed to Ejigbo’s broader political contributions, including producing two Speakers of the Osun State House of Assembly and a former senator, as evidence of its strong presence in the state’s political landscape.
The group argued that Salam’s current roles, including Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts and member of the ECOWAS Parliament, position him to attract greater federal presence and development projects to the constituency.
“At this critical stage, continuity is key to consolidating the gains already achieved and expanding development opportunities,” he said.
While acknowledging the rights of other aspirants, the coalition cautioned against divisive political tactics and urged stakeholders to prioritise competence, integrity, and proven performance in leadership selection.
It also called on political actors to align with the development agenda of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, stressing the importance of unity and people-centred governance.
“Let us reiterate, E4 Development Advocates is not in opposition to ambition. What we oppose is the descent into crude, divisive, and outdated political tactics, where communities are pitched against one another, and facts are sacrificed on the altar of personal interest.
“We urge all aspirants to pursue their ambitions with dignity, integrity, and respect for the intelligence of our people.Respected stakeholders of our great party and the larger electorate of this constituency are readily informed, experienced, and capable of making decisions based on truth, not propaganda.
“Therefore, we urge political actors and party leaders to prioritize competence, proven performance, and integrity in their selection processes, recognizing that the future of our constituency depends on the quality of leadership we entrust with public office.
“As members of the Accord Family, we remain committed to unity. We commend the leadership of the party for their ongoing efforts to maintain cohesion and stability in the face of emerging but needless tensions.Finally, we call on all political actors to align with the broader vision of development and good governance being championed by His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State.
“This vision is one that prioritizes progress over politics, and people over propaganda. Rep. Bamidele Salam has, through his service, demonstrated full alignment with this vision, transforming representation from mere title to tangible impact”, the statement concluded.
