Kunle ADELABU
The battle over who gets the political parties’ tickets for the much coveted Ikorodu Constituency I seat at the Lagos State House of Assembly has reached crescendo as aspirants are now engaging in last minutes politicking to register their presence in the minds of the leaders and party members who are going to determine their fates at the party’s primary elections which are few days away.
The Assembly primary election for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is slated for Friday, October 5 (barring any postponement) while that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would come up on same day.
These are the two political parties showing serious concern for the seat at the moment.
Another party that also showing some level of interest for the seat is the Alliance for Democracy (AD) whose aspirant is Mr Semiu Osho.
In this clime, the primary election is more important than the general elections especially in APC where whoever emerges as its flag bearer is sure of victory at the general elections.
The question on the lips of the people now is, “Who will emerge the representative of Ikorodu Constituency I in the hallow chamber of the State Assembly come 2019 among those who have declared to run for the position so far?”.
The Reporter-in-Chief, THE IMPACT Newspaper, Kunle ADELABU, examined the strength of each of these contenders.
Since the inception of the current democratic dispensation, three dynamic lawyers with sound minds have represented Ikorodu Constituency I in the State Assembly. An articulate and informed lawyer cum politician, Hon. (Barr) Ola Animashaun served the people of Ikorodu Constituency I at the Lagos State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003. He, however, lost the seat when he abandoned the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and joined the PDP.
A dynamic and astute young man, Hon. Olanrewaju Sunmi Odesanya represented Ikorodu Constituency I between 2003 and 2007. He was elected when the AD metamorphosed into Action Congress (AC). After his first term, the vibrant and accessible lawyer decided to take a shot at the House of Representatives but lost the primary to the then incumbent, Hon. Abike Dabri-Erewa.
Another lawyer and pro-democracy activist who currently occupy the seat, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, took over from Odesanya in 2007 and was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2011 due to his impressive performance. He, again, rode on his popularity, legislative competence and quality representation to clinch the ticket for the third term in 2015. At that time, Ikorodu was eyeing the Speakership position of the Assembly and it was resolved that he was the best bet for the division to clinch that exalted legislative position. Although, he did not get the Speakership position, the cerebral lawmaker became the Business Leader (Majority Leader) of the house after the 8th Lagos State House of Assembly was constituted.
Those that would be contesting the primary election under the platform of APC for a chance to become the party’s flag bearer for the Assembly position in the coming general elections are the incumbent, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Hon. Adeola Jokomba, former Chairman, lkorodu North LCDA, Hon. Saheed Ibikunle, a former Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Education, Barr. Lekan Ijelu, Mr Toyin Gafaar, Mr Lateef Anifowoshe, Mr Yinka Majekodunmi and Mr Nurudeen Yekini-Agbaje.
Mrs Adunni Oyefusi is the sole female aspirant on the APC platform.
It was gathered that there has been an attempt by some political leaders to make the aspirants work together. It was also gathered the promoters of this arrangement did not include the incumbent, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade and Mr Yinka Majekodunmi for certain political reasons.
This arrangement, according to the report gathered, suffered a major blow when an idea to send a petition against the incumbent to the party secretariat and to some security quarters was muted by some of the aspirants but was opposed by others on the ground that such is needless.
According to some sources who were privy to the arrangement, the second factor that led to the failure of the move before it was even birth was the attempt by the leaders involved to imposed an aspirant on others.
Those aspiring to run for the position on the platform of PDP are Princess Omowunmi Ogbara and Alhaji Mukaila Ajagun-Lamina.
Aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Hon. Sanai Agunbiade
He is the incumbent representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I and the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He has broken many political myths and crossed many hurdles to get to where he is today. He is a history maker in the political history of both Ikorodu Constituency I and Ikorodu division in general because his record as a three term lawmaker has never been achieved before by anyone in the Constituency or division.
Aside being a performing lawmaker and a good representative of his people, Hon Agunbiade ranks among the very best in the state legislature and also across the country due to his legislative competence and quality representation which have been attested to by many.
He has consistently emerged as the best male lawmaker in the state for three consecutive years (2014, 2015 and 2016) based on his impactful motion and lawmaking prowess.
He had a record turnout at his formal declaration to recontest the office which was a good sign that his ambition to return to the house for the fourth term sit well with his people .
He has been enjoying massive endorsements with his party and community in general.
Aside the endorsement by the traditional rulers in the division led by HRM Oba Kabiru Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Hon. Agunbiade has also been endorsed by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ikorodu Chapter, Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN),Ikorodu Chapter and Motorcycle Operators in Ikorodu.
His aspiration has also been endorsed by the Council of Baales in Ikorodu Division, All Stars Football Clubs in the division, Progressives Leaders in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and the Patriot in Ikorodu led by Hon. Ologijo.
He also wields greater influence on the party machineries in the three councils that are in Ikorodu Constituency I, going by the results of the last congress of the party. And his popularity among the generality of the party members is also not in doubt.
He also has the ears of the power-brokers at the state level of the party going by his activities in the recent time.
No doubt, Hon. Agunbiade remains an aspirant to beat in the coming primary election.
His major challenge is the opposition posed by a section of the his party to his fourth term bid.
Hon. Adeola Jokomba
Hon. Adeola Jokomba, a former two-term Chairman of the Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area and a prince of Lasunwon, is a popular figure within Ikorodu political space.
He aspired for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat in 2015 but he did not participate in the primary election.
Hon Jokomba, after scaling the screening hurdle, has intensified his quest for the Assembly seat by setting his political machinery in motion and navigating the length and breadth of the constituency to sell his aspiration to party leaders and members as well as the residents.
Also, he has continually made his presence felt on the social media where he has been appealing to the youths of the ruling party for supports.
He is not a political neophyte having won two major elections unexpectedly.
He is also backed by formidable party leaders especially those in Ikorodu North LCDA which his main base and Ikorodu Local Government.
Hon. Saheed Ibikunle
Hon. Saheed Ibikunle, an educationist per excellence, former Secretary to the Ikorodu Local Government and former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Fashola on Education Management, is an aspirant that cannot be pushed aside in the race for the Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly seat.
He was also a former aspirant for the chairmanship position of Ikorodu Local Government.
After his declaration about two months ago, he has been dominating the social media space related to Ikorodu with his programmes and agenda.
He has also been traversing the political space in the constituency with his ‘Omoluabi’ team to meet with the leader ship of the party and cross section of members.
He is also a major contender to watch out for in the coming primary election for the Assembly seat.
Barr. Lekan Ijelu
Barr. Lekan Ijelu is a professional legal practitioner who has been practicing for over ten years.
Barr. Ijelu is not a newcomer in the race for the Constituency I Assembly seat. In actual fact, he is gradually turning into a veteran in his aspiration for the position because he had aspired for the position for three years consecutively ( 2007, 2011 and 2015).
Although, he has not make any formal declaration, the party nomination form he obtained and submitted coupled with his appearance for the screening, there is no doubt that Ijelu once again mean business to clinch the ticket which is more or less becoming elusive for him.
Even though, much has not been heard from him, his campaign posters have surfaced in some parts of the constituency to signify that he has the capacity to reach out.
Mr Toyin Gafaar
Mr Toyin Gafaar, popularly called ‘Bolowotan’, is a philanthropist of repute and a sports promoter. He is the owner of the defunct Bolowotan Football Club of Ikorodu.
Presently, he is on the board of PrimeSigns Limited Company as Head of Administration and Accounts.
He has his primary constituency in the sports circle, especially football, where he has made lots of contributions.
Like other aspirants, he has been going round to meet with party leaders, both within and outside Ikorodu. Within a short time he declared his intention to vie for the position, he has garnered enough followers to propagate his ideals and programmes.
His media and publicity arms are also doing a great job in creating a massive presence for him, both on the cyber space and in the real world.
His supposed strong financial base has also been identified as a major factor that would enable him mount a solid challenge for the position.
He also has the backing of some political leaders across the constituency.
He is a frontline contender for the October 4th primary election.
Mr Lateef Anifowoshe
Mr Anifowoshe is a Town Planner by training and he possesses vast experience in Urban and Environmental planning. He is currently in the service of the Lagos State Government.
He aspired for the same position in 2015 and emerged fourth with 22 votes at the primary election. Since then, he has kept the desire to represent his people alive.
He has also been meeting with critical stakeholders within the party while also placing his posters and banners at strategic areas for wider publicity.
However, his presence on the social media is not that much.
His major backer, according to report gathered, is the incumbent chairman of the Ikorodu Local Government and with this, he is assured of financial and political supports as the chairman’s political structure has been made available for his campaign.
Mr Yinka Majekodunmi
Yinka Majekodun is a financial expert currently in the service of the Lagos State Government.
Though, a greenhorn in the race, he has been able to endeared himself to a segment of the public because of his campaign strategy which runs on various social media platforms.
He is among the first set of aspirants to declare their intentions to contest for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat in the State Assembly and he has also been consulting stakeholders since early 2017.
He has succeeded in enlisting the support of some party leaders and members as well as some members of the public.
He’s among the few aspirants who run a whatssApp platform to interface with the people and promote their aspirations.
He has succeeded in building a political structure within a year and he’s among the few aspirants who have made impressive public declaration of their intentions and presented their programmes to the people.
Mr Nurudeen Yekini-Agbaje
Mr Nurudeen Yekini Agbaje is currently in the service of the Lagos State Government. He was among those that lost the primary election for the Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly seat to the incumbent when he contested in 2015. He emerged fourth along with two other aspirants with 22 votes each in the primary election.
He has equally made his presence felt through his posters and banners that are adorning every nook and cranny of the town.
Like other aspirants, he has also been making consultations with leaders and members of his party to seek for their supports.
Mrs Adunni Oyefusi
She is the former Executive Secretary of the Ikorodu west Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and a grassroots politician.
She is the only female aspirant for the exalted position.
She came late into the contest and her campaign has not really made much impact.
Aspirants on the platform of the main opposition party (PDP)
Alhaji Mukaila Ajagun-Lamina
The young graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, is an international businessman. He took over his late father’s Clearing and Forwarding business about a decade ago and has been doing fine.
He aspired for same position in 2015 on the PDP platform and seems to be a frontrunner this time around.
He has the backing of many party leaders and members.
Princess Omowunmi Ogbara
She is a business woman and daughter of the late business mogul, Alhaji Ogbara.
According to report, she stands the chance of clinching the party’s ticket but her chance to go all the way and win the main election remains a tall order considering the present stands of her party.
More so, nothing much has been heard about her aspiration except for the big flex banner that is strategically positioned at the frontage of her father’s house at Ikorodu garage.
