Kunle ADELABU
The fight for the sole Ikorodu Constituency I seat at the Lagos State House of Assembly will be between the incumbent representative and the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade and candidates of other political parties.
As at the moment, only the main opposition party is showing any sign of seriousness to once again challenge the ruling party for the much coveted Ikorodu Constituency I seat.
Other parties appear to have resigned to faith. Their candidates are only appearing occasionally on the social media.
The three-term lawmaker who is vying for the position for the fourth term on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged as the candidate of his party after a primary election characterized by intense politicking.
His emergence amongst serious contenders with vast political networks and resources has once again proven that the former Students’ leader and practising lawyer turned politician, Hon Agunbiade is a force to reckon with in the Ikorodu division politics and by extension, Lagos State
Since his first term in 2007, his legislative agenda with which he has consistently campaigned and secured votes have been ‘practical representation’
His representative and legislative performances stand him in good stead and the fact that he is very well known to the electorates and the general public in another plus
The experienced lawmaker comes 2019 election would be the candidate to beat having become a veteran contestant winning four primary elections since the time of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and three General Elections so far.
He understands the dynamism of politics better than anybody within today’s political firmament of Ikorodu division.
Although, his party is still enmeshed in political crisis due to the fallout of the primary elections, but political watchers and analysts are of the opinion that the political gladiators within the ruling APC would eventually settle their differences because of interest.
They argued that whatever their difference might be, they cannot afford to lose the general elections knowingly fully well what the implication would be to their personal and collective interests.
But others argued that some of the aggrieved may not accept truce going by what happened before, during and after the primary elections
More importantly, the 2019 election would be a test case for Ikorodu division to determine its stand and relevance in the next political dispensation. Going by the reality on the ground, Hon. Agunbiade is the only chance of the division to maintain any key position in the state political arrangement.
In this regard, many have argued that he stands the chance to at least maintain his current position as the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly or get higher position depending on the political situation that the 9th Assembly may bring
One of those challenging Hon. Agunbiade for the much-coveted seat is a young socialite and businessman turned politician, Mr Mukaila Ajalogun-Lamina, the Chief Executive Officer of WASLAME International Agencies.
He emerged as the candidate of the ruling party at a primary held at the PDP Secretariat at Olubi street, Ikorodu.
He was an aspirant for the same position on the PDP platform in 2014 but lost to Mr Kazeem Abatan who was the flag bearer of the party at the last general election in 2015
Mukaila attended Ijomu Primary School, Ikorodu, and later St. Gregory College, Obalende, Lagos, for his secondary school education.
He proceeded to the prestigious Yaba College of Technology where he obtained Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Marketing. He did his Industrial Attachment at the Nigerian Telecommunication in Ibadan and later proceeded to The Polytechnic, Ibadan, where he bagged Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing.
He had his national youth service in Anambra State in 2008.
As a businessman, he has been engaging in business activities since his days in tertiary institutions. He was the Marketing Manager of Image Channels Nigeria Limited, one of his late father’s companies and today, he is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), WASLAME International Agencies, a company he took over after the death of his father.
His agenda if elected were: to introduce youthfulness and vibrancy in representation, to introduce Bills and Motions that would strengthen the system and empower the youths and women, to constantly engage the stakeholders in the constituency and to introduce sustainable schemes and programmes, among others
Although, how the main opposition party is planning to take over the seat that has been under the grip of the ruling party since the beginning of this political dispensation in 1999 is yet to be seen, but one cannot rule out political surprises.
The youthfulness of Ajagun-Lamina and his social status is an added advantage
It also possible for his party to catch on the crisis within the ruling APC to political surprise, but it is yet to be seen if any of the aggrieved members of the ruling party is ready to engage in any anti-party to the extent of sabotaging its fortune in the next election
The depletion of the PDP between 2017 and now with most of its political figures decamping into APC has also given analysts serious concern regarding the seriousness of the PDP to make any appreciable impact in the coming elections
He stands to gain in the fallout if Ikorodu makes the hard decision to navigate new political water.
Prince Adeyemi Odofin, popularly called ‘Chicago’ is the Ikorodu Constituency I candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Odofin who is a graduate is known for his photography engagements within the town. Like the incumbent occupant, he is also a Prince of Lasunwon Ruling house and very popular among the youths within the constituency.
Another factor that may work for his candidacy is the fact that his party, ADC, picked a son of the soil, Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi as its Governorship candidate in the coming election.
It is expected that his electoral fortune may rob on him.
Hon Shamsudeen Abayomi Bork, we gathered will be flying the Alliance for Democracy flag for the Ikorodu Constituency I.
The Ikorodu-based young politician is a former Councilor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is relatively popular among the youths in the community, especially in his area.
His party, Alliance for Democracy also has another prominent Ikorodu son, Asiwaju Owolabi Salis, has its candidate which may also work for him too at the poll.
He defected to the ruling APC in 2017 with others before crossing over to the AD
Another contestant is Mr Balogun Rotimi Olatunbosun on the platform of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN)
