The political landscape of Ondo South Senatorial District has completely shifted. The speculative chatter is over, the boardroom conspiracies have settled, and the verdict is final. With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releasing the certified list of candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections, one name stands out as the ultimate game-changer: Mathew Oyerinmade, affectionately known by the masses as Mato.
Mato is officially on the ballot under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For the people of Ondo South, his inclusion is not just another political option, it is a breath of fresh air and a unifying force that the district desperately needs.
Before the list became official, there was a quiet, desperate plot by Mato’s political detractors to stop him. Opponents had hoped to use the recent Supreme Court judgements regarding party registers and substitution windows to ambush his candidacy and disqualify him from the race.
But that ambush has failed spectacularly.
By clearing Oyerinmade Mathew Mato, INEC has validated his compliance and sent a clear message: Mato is legitimate, he is loved, and he is the man to beat. The legal trap set by his enemies evaporated the moment his name was published, throwing his opponents into an absolute panic.
To understand why Mato is strongly positioned to win, one only needs to look at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The APC is heading into this election as a deeply divided house and as the old saying goes, a divided house cannot stand.
A Divided House: The Crisis Facing Isaac Kekemeke
The APC candidate, Dr Isaacs Kekemeke, is currently facing serious internal resistance from the majority of his own party members. Despite being backed initially by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa during the primary, Kekemeke’s relationship with the Governor has reportedly turned frosty.
Large factions within the Ondo APC are openly pushing back against his candidacy, refusing to work for his success. With key APC leaders in Ondo South already turning their backs on their own ticket, the party is crumbling from within.
The Weakness of the ADC and Senator Nicholas Tofowomo
On the other side of the ring sits Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, flying the flag of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). While Tofowomo is a known name; and a performer, considering his achievements in the 9th Senate, he is obviously saddled with a structural disadvantage: the ADC is simply not a formidable party across the six local government areas of Ondo State. It lacks the grassroots networks, the polling unit agents, and the political weight needed to win a senatorial seat.
More importantly, the majority of the politicians who currently dominate the ADC are actually former PDP members. Deep down, their political DNA and emotional loyalties still belong to the PDP. They are already looking back “home,” and Mato’s formidable candidacy provides them with the perfect umbrella to return under. Furthermore, like Kekemeke, Tofowomo has accumulated quite a few political enemies over the years, making his path to victory incredibly steep
Mato — the Unifying Factor
In stark contrast to his rivals, Mato enters this race with remarkably few political enemies. He is a politician who builds bridges rather than burning them.
For years, Mato has built a permanent home for himself in the hearts of ordinary citizens. Long before he entered the 2027 race, he paid his dues through genuine kindness, silent philanthropy, and massive empowerment programmes for youth and women.
The electorate also holds a deep sense of sympathy for him. On two separate occasions within the APC, Mato was a victim of political imposition and unfair internal arrangements despite his immense popularity and contributions to the ruling APC.
Ondo South residents watched him get treated unfairly, and that injustice has transformed into a massive wave of public sympathy. The people feel it is finally Mato’s time.
The momentum behind Mathew Oyerinmade is now a moving train that cannot be stopped. His popularity transcends party lines, pulling support from aggrieved APC members, loyal PDP stakeholders, and returning ADC decampees.
The reality on the ground is stark: Mato is so widely loved that not even the influence of Governor Aiyedatiwa will be able to save the APC from a humiliating defeat. If current indicators hold true, the APC risks sliding into a distant third position in the Ondo South National Assembly elections.
Now that Mato is officially on the ballot, the choice for Ondo South has become simple. The district is rejecting divided houses and weak structures. They are choosing a man of peace, a man of development, and a candidate who represents true justice. Mathew Oyerinmade is ready to lead, and Ondo South is ready to vote.
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