Kunle ADELABU
Any moment fromnow, the incumbent occupant of the Ikorodu Constituency II seat at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Nurudeen Saka Solaja, would face his old political foe, Mr Sesan Akeju, in the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to determine who gets the ruling party’s ticket for the position.
The winner between the duo may eventually face Hon. Abiodun, who seems to be the sole aspirant for the position on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the general elections.
Hon. Solaja, a former council treasurer who emerged as the consensus candidate from Imota in 2015, is representing Imota Local Council Development Area, one of the three councils that made up of the constituency II where the principle of rotation for the Assembly seat prevails among the three districts.
The constituency is operating a rotational system among its three component councils namely Imota, Ijede and Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDAs.
At the advent of current republic in 1999, Hon Saheed Adefarasin Hassan from Ijede district represented the constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly and served two terms which expired in 2007.
Between 2007 and 2015, which was the turn of Igbogbo/Bayeku district, three representatives had the opportunity of representing the constituency from the council.
Late Hon Rotimi Olasiji Sotomiwa was the elected representative of the constituency in 2007 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) but died after spending three years out of his four years tenure.
The bye-election conducted after his death produced Hon Gbenga Oshin, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who, surprisingly and against all odds, defeated the ruling party’s candidate, Mr David Alagbe.
But in the 2011 general elections, Hon Adebimpe Akinsola regained the seat for the ruling party and in the process completed the second term slot of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.
There was, however, an attempt to change the rotational principle as a section of the constituency demanded that Hon. Akinsola should go for another term. Those making this demand also requested for the abrogation of the rotational principle on the ground that it does not engender competence and quality.
Although, Hon. Akinsola, who was later appointed as special adviser and later acting commissioner for tourism, arts and culture, did not obtain the nomination for re-election, that did not stop those protesting from clamouring for the abrogation of the principle of rotation.
The protesters are of the opinion that the principle only serves few party leaders who have constituted themselves into power brokers and determine who emerge the candidate against the popular will of the generality of the constituency.
On the other hand, proponents of the rotational principle are saying that the practice has brought political stability to Constituency II unlike Constituency I where it is usually a war to pick the candidate for the position every four years.
The incumbent, Hon Solaja, is currently in the first term of the two terms which Imota is entitled to based on the rotational arrangement.
Although, thère has been criticism against his representation especially in the area of his primary duty (lawmaking), the lawmaker nevertheless rolled out his achievements recently at his empowerment programme tagged ‘Mega Empowerment For The Constituents’.
It is also not in doubt that the incumbent is part of the success story of the Lagos State House of Assembly which has been adjudged as the best in Nigeria if not in Africa.
He also has the supports of the political leaders and traditional rulers in the constituency whom he has been relating well with.
His representation has also enabled him to establish himself in the three councils in Constituency I as a major stakeholder, especially within the political circle where he seems to have the ears of those that matter in his party.
But despite all these advantages, the agitation for his replacement, especially from his base in Imota, has continue to wax stronger as the general elections draw near.
A young and cerebral politician and Economist, Mr Olaoluwa Godwin, sometimes ago nursed the aspiration to wrestle the seat from the Hon. Solaja but it seems he has jettisoned the aspiration.
THE IMPACT gathered that there was also an attempt sometimes ago to find a replacement for the incumbent by a group in Imota but nothing is been heard about such move.
These failed attempts at finding a replacement for Hon. Solaja appeared to have made him to be coasting to victory going into the primary election until recently when some aspirants started emerging.
One of such aspirants is Mr Sesan Akeju who recently decamped into APC. He was the PDP candidate in the last general elections against the incumbent.
The opposition had claimed then that he won the election but was rigged out.
His declaration to recontest the assembly seat on the platform of the ruling party seems to be posing threat to the second term ambition of the incumbent and also causing ripples within the ruling party in Constituency II.
Akeju is a grassroots politician that is well loved by the locals in Imota. But can he overpowered the incumbent who is gradually turning into a household name in the Constituency? This is a question which the observers are curiously expecting the primary election to answer.
However, it is not going to be all APC affairs as another formidable figure has also declared his interest for the seat on the oppositions’ platforms.
Vying on the PDP platform is Mr Abiodun Aro who is a very popular grassroots politician in Imota.
Although, no other aspirant from other parties has shown interest in the much coveted seat aside those from APC and PDP, feelers from the constituency are, however, suggesting that ADP, NCP, AD and some other opposition parties may likely field candidates.
