Omoowo is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 Ogun East Senatorial District seat in the National Assembly.
His emergence followed agitation by the Ijebu Lokan Fun Igbesiwaju Ijebu Movement that Ijebuland should produce the next Senator of Ogun East.
For those who may not know, past Senators from Ogun East are from Ijebu-Igbo/Ijebu North; Ago-Iwoye/Ijebu North; Erunwon/Ijebu North East.
The candidate spoke to APATA OYENIRAN and EJIKEME OMENAZU on his vision and agenda for his Senatorial District if elected senator.
Who is Alhaji Abdulhameed Oluwafemi Omotayo beyond the political posters and campaign slogans?
I was born and raised in Ijebu, shaped by its values, its people, and its culture. My family has deep roots here in this community. I am known simply as Omo Owo.
Before any campaign poster existed, that name meant something and it still does.
I am a businessman who has spent over 20 years in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector building companies, creating employment, and working with people at every level of the economy.
I am a husband, a father, a Muslim, and a community servant.
I have spent years working with Islamic communities and Nigerians of diverse religious backgrounds across Nigeria, not for recognition, but because I genuinely believe in service.
Politics, for me, is not a career change. It is a continuation of the same thing I have always done: trying to build something that outlasts me and benefits others.
Can you tell the people of Ogun East about your upbringing, education, and professional journey?
I grew up understanding the value of hard work and the weight of responsibility.
Ijebu people are known for their industry, intelligence, and pride. Those values were not just cultural inheritance for me; they were lived daily in my home.
Over 20 years in the Oil and Gas sector—one of the most complex, competitive, and politically connected industries in this country—taught me how systems work, how money moves from Abuja to the states, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
I have managed large teams, negotiated with federal institutions, and created jobs for Nigerians across the country.
Everything I learnt in that world is directly applicable to the work of a Senator because a Senator’s job is fundamentally about resources, systems, and making sure the right things happen for the right people.
What inspired your decision to venture into politics at this point in your life?
There comes a moment when watching is no longer enough.
I have watched Ogun East for a long time. I have watched our people work hard and receive little in return from the federal government.
I have watched young people leave because they could not find opportunities here.
I have watched our values erode quietly while nobody spoke loudly enough where decisions are made.
I am not a person who has spent his life chasing political office. I have never contested for any position before today.
What brought me here is not ambition; it is circumstance.
The Ijebu people needed someone who understood both the Senate and the streets of Ijebu Ode—someone with the professional experience to navigate Abuja and the community roots to stay accountable to the people at home.
When people I trust said it was time, and when I looked honestly at what I had built in 20 years, I knew I could no longer say no.
Highlighted Quote
“I am running because I believe Ogun East deserves a Senator who turns up, speaks up, and follows through. I have spent thirty years learning how systems work. Now I want to put that knowledge to work for my people.”
Many people say little is known about you politically. Why have you stayed away from the spotlight until now?
I have never been a politician. That is true.
I have spent my adult life building businesses, not campaigns.
But I would ask people to consider this: Is the problem that I am unknown, or is it that we have become so accustomed to career politicians that we have forgotten that the best leaders sometimes come from outside the system?
I am not unknown in Ijebu.
My family name, Omo Owo, is known in these communities.
My mother is Iyabo Odunmolorun Omotayo, a former South-West Woman Leader of the PDP.
What I have built, the jobs I have created, the communities I have served quietly, and the business relationships I have nurtured are known.
What I have not done is pursue power for its own sake.
What values define your personality and leadership style?
Accessibility first.
I believe a leader who cannot be reached has already failed.
My pledge is simple: if you call me, I will answer. If you write to me, I will respond.
Beyond that: honesty even when it is uncomfortable, accountability to the people rather than to power, and a genuine belief that the communities I represent are more intelligent than many politicians give them credit for.
Who are the individuals or experiences that shaped your passion for public service?
Growing up in Ijebu, I watched hardworking people give everything they had and still struggle.
Not because they were not capable, but because the systems that were supposed to support them were broken or absent.
That observation never left me.
The market women of Ijebu Ode, the young man trying to start something with nothing, and ordinary people who keep showing up despite everything working against them have been my inspiration.
Why are you seeking to represent Ogun East Senatorial District in the Senate?
Because the Senate is where the decisions that affect our daily lives are made.
The national budget passes through the Senate.
Laws affecting farmers, traders, students, and hospitals are debated and passed there.
Federal ministries are held accountable there.
If your Senator is not fully present and fully committed to your interests, your community suffers.
Ogun East deserves a Senator who turns up, speaks up, and follows through.
What specific problems in Ogun East pushed you to contest?
Three things concern me most deeply:
1. Erosion of Values
Ogun East has a proud heritage and identity. If we are not intentional, one generation from now that identity could fade.
2. Gap Between Federal Resources and Local Impact
The money exists. Allocations exist. Projects are announced. But too often they never arrive.
3. Untapped Potential
Particularly our waterways, commercial heritage, and young people.
Ogun East has assets that have barely been touched.
Your campaign slogan says “Listens, Acts, Solves.” What does this practically mean?
It means every interaction between my office and a constituent follows those three steps.
Listens: I will hold monthly district clinics open to constituents in their communities.
Acts: I will ensure concerns are addressed sincerely and promptly.
Solves: Leadership must focus on solving problems, not merely discussing them.
Ogun East deserves leadership that listens, acts sincerely, and focuses on solutions.
Source: Sunday Independent, June 7, 2026 (Politics Section).
About the Author
