Simon Ajibola

Simon (or Simeon) Ajibola became the Senator for the Kwara South Senatorial District of Kwara State in June 2004 and was reelected in 2007. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).[1]

Simon Ajibola
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Kwara South Senatorial District
In office 29 June 2004 – May 2015
Preceded by	Suleiman Ajadi
Succeeded by	Rafiu Ibrahim
Personal details
Born	Kwara State, Nigeria

Early life and education

Ajibola obtained a graduate degree in Quantity Surveying from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979.

Political career

He was elected Delegate to the National Constitution Conference (1994–1995).[1] During the transition planned by General Sani Abacha, Ajibola ran for senate on the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNPP) ticket. Although regarded as an underdog, he went ahead to win. However, the process was cancelled with Abacha's death in June 1998.[2]

After the return to democracy in 1999, Ajibola was Federal Commissioner, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation & Fiscal Commission (2001–2002).[1]

Ajibola ran for the Kwara South Senatorial District seat in April 2003 but was defeated by Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). However, in June 2004 Ajadi's victory was overturned by the Election Petition Tribunal and Ajibola was declared elected.[3] He was reelected in 2007 and was appointed to committees on Water Resources, Upstream Petroleum Resources, Security & Intelligence and Agriculture.[1] In a mid-term evaluation of Senators in May 2009, ThisDay said he had not sponsored any bills in the previous year, had limited involvement with debate in plenary, but was effective in committee work.[4]

Ajibola ran again for the Kwara South Senate seat in the 9 April 2011 election, and was returned for a third term. In December 2014, Senator Ajibola defeated the seemingly more popular candidates Dele Belgore and Gbemisola Saraki to clinch the PDP primaries[5] to become the party flag bearer running for Governor of Kwara State in the 2015 elections[6], promising to give autonomy to the 16 Local government Councils in the state when elected as governor.[7]

In the 2015 Nigerian elections, after preliminary polls showed Abdulfatah Ahmed far ahead in the race for state governor, Senator Ajibola sued to challenge the results of the election. The case was taken to a federal high court where it was thrown out, with a judge ruling that Senator Ajibola had no locus standi to sue.[8]

References

1. "Sen. Simon Ajibola". National Assembly of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
2. Tunde Sanni (Jun 7, 2010). "Battle Before a Deposed Senator". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
3. Tunde Sanni (June 30, 2004). "Tribunal Upturns Kwara Senators' Election". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
4. "An Improved Senate, But Some Uninspiring Senators..." ThisDay. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
5. "Official Result; Kwara PDP Gubernatorial Primaries". PDP Kwara State Chapter.
6. "Ambitions of Orji, Agagu, Oyinlola dashed". Daily Independent. Apr 10, 2011. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
7. "KWARA PDP: AJIBOLA NAMES YINKA ALUKO AS GUBERNATORIAL RUNNING MATE".
8. "Appeal Court upholds Ahmed's election as Kwara Governor".