Table of Contents
Introduction
Kwara South Senatorial District, one of the most politically dynamic in the state, is known for its ethnic diversity, with strategic electoral value and a long tradition of producing influential national lawmakers. This senatorial district makes up seven Local Government Areas, namely Oke-Ero, Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin, Offa, Oyun, and Ifelodun, providing a mixture of cultural identities, vibrant community structures, and political participation that consistently shape electoral outcomes from the Fourth Republic to the present day.
Since the return to democracy in 1999, Kwara South has had a rich rotation of senatorial leadership: from different political parties, each emerging from unique political blocs, royal backgrounds, technocratic careers, or grassroots movements. From seasoned political heavyweights to reform-driven newcomers, every senator from this zone has contributed differently to national debate, constituency development, and the evolving political history of Kwara State.
This article aims to provide a clear compilation of all senators representing Kwara South, detailing their tenure years, LGAs, political parties, and short profiles that summarize their political journeys and contributions.
First Republic
In the First Republic (1963–1966), the individual who served as a Senator for the Ilorin Province area (which covers both present-day Kwara Central and South) was Alhaji Sanni Olanrewaju Buraimo Okin.
Second Republic
2. Senator David O. O. Somolu (1979 – 1983)
Local Government Area: Ifelodun
Political Party: Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)
An engineer who established a successful practice in Lagos before returning to Kwara State to contest the senatorial elections. Representing the Oyun/Offa/Ifelodun constituency on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), he was a prominent opposition figure in the National Assembly.
He served as the Chairman of the Senate Public Works Committee and effectively utilized his position to secure the first federal overlay and reconstruction efforts for the critical Ajase-Ipo – Share – Ilorin highway. His political career ended in 1983 when he lost renomination following an internal party conflict reportedly stemming from allegations of “Lagos influence” and local political dynamics.
Third Republic
3. Bisi Oyewo ( 1992 to 1993 )
Local Government Area: Offa
Political Party: Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Profile: A dedicated classroom teacher who became a passionate women’s rights campaigner before entering politics. She made history as Kwara South’s first (and to date, only) Third-Republic senator. During her brief tenure in the Senate, she actively pushed for legislative action, notably advocating for the extension of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) decree to the then newly-created local government areas within Kwara State. She also championed the designation of Offa as a full postal division to improve local services.
Her legislative career was abruptly cut short when her tenure ended with the military dissolution of the National Assembly on November 17, 1993.
Fourth Republic
4. Ajadi Suleiman Makanjuola (1999 – June 2004)
Local Government Area: Offa
Political Party: All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)
A seasoned educationist who served as a Principal Lecturer at Kwara State College of Technology and as the Kwara State Commissioner for Finance (1994-1995), Ajadi Suleiman Makanjuola won the first post-military ballot in 1999 on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform. Known as a grassroots politician, he focused on local infrastructure, including road rehabilitation (especially the Offa–Oyun–Ilorin highway), and implemented scholarship schemes for indigent undergraduates.
His re-election in 2003 was challenged, and his victory was ultimately voided in June 2004 by the Election Petition Tribunal for proven irregularities, abruptly ending his initial tenure in the Senate.
5. Simon Ajibola (June 2004 – 2015)
Local Government Area: Ifelodun
Political Party: People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
A quantity surveyor-turned-politician, Ajibola is the longest-serving senator from Kwara South so far (three consecutive terms). He chaired the Senate Committee on Public Accounts (2007-2011) and was a member of the ECOWAS Parliament. He lost the party primary in 2014, ending his productive 11-year tenure.
6. Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim (2015 – 2019)
Local Government Area: Oyun
Political Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
Before venturing into politics, Ibrahim was Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions. He sponsored the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Bill (2017), which widened SMEs’ access to credit and attracted the CBN’s micro-finance intervention to Kwara South. He was defeated in the 2019 general elections amidst the “Ó Tó Gẹ́” political wave. He remained an influential and vocal voice on fiscal policy debates and a committed philanthropist until his death (April 17, 2024)
7. Oyelola Yisa Ashiru (2019 – 2027)
Local Government Area: Offa
Political Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
A trained architect and property developer, Ashiru is currently Deputy Senate Leader—the first Kwara South senator to hold a principal office in the 10th National Assembly. He previously served as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committees on Housing and Public Procurement during the 9th Assembly. He is already the rallying point for Kwara South stakeholders who insist the governorship should remain open to competence, not geography, in 2027.
Summary of Kwara South Senators
| Senator | Tenure | Assembly | LGA | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963–1966 | 1st Assembly | |||
| David O. O. Somolu | 1979–1983 | 2nd Assembly | Ifelodun | UPN |
| Bisi Oyewo | 1992–1993 | 3rd Assembly | Offa | SDP |
Ajadi Suleiman Makanjuola | 1999–2004 | 4th & 5th Assembly | Offa | ANPP |
| Simon Ajibola | 2004–2015 | 5th, 6th & 7th Assembly | Ifelodun | PDP |
| Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim | 2015–2019 | 8th Assembly | Oyun | APC |
| Oyelola Yisa Ashiru | 2019–2027 | 9th & 10th Assembly | Offa | APC |