Kunle Adelabu
The major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is not relenting in its quest to unseat the ruling All Progressives Party (PDP) and two of the political offices that the party has shown so much interest and expended resources in winning are the Ikorodu Constituency I and II seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The two coveted seats have been dominated by APC since 1999, starting with Hon. Ola Animashaun who represented the Constituency on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) at the inception of the current democratic dispensation in 1999. Hon. Olanrewaju Sunmi Odesanya took over from him on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2003.
The incumbent, who is also the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, has been in the saddle since 2007 with back – to – back – re – election for four consecutive general elections, defeating the PDP and other parties candidates along the line.
In Ikorodu Constituency II, it has also been the ruling party all the way, except for the bye – election held in 2010 to fill the seat after the sad demise of the then occupant, Hon. Rotimi Sotonwa, in his first term. The election was unexpectedly won by the then PDP candidate, Hon. Gbenga Oshin (now an aspirant for the same position on the platform APC), who defeated the ACN candidate, Mr David Alagbe.
It was Hon. Saheed Hassan Adefarasin who represented the Constituency II between 1999 to 2007 while late Hon. Rotimi Sotonwa took over from him and represented the Constituency for a term (2007-2010) before he died. The second term for Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, was served by Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola between 2011 and 2015 after which the incumbent occupant of the seat, Hon. Nurudeen Saka Solaja took over the position between 2015 to 2019 and was re – elected for another term between 2019-till date.
The incumbent is seeking re – election for the third term.
In an interview with the PDP Chairman in Ikorodu, Engr. Oshin Olanrewaju, about three weeks ago, he said that the party is ready to dislodge APC come 2023, adding that only time will tell how far the party is willing to go.
At the moment, about four aspirants have shown interest in getting the PDP ticket to confront the APC candidates in Ikorodu Constituency I and II, in the coming General Elections. Leading the pack is Mr Mukaila Lamina Ajagun who is gradually turning into a veteran of sort in the contest for the Assembly seat.
The businessman cum politician is vying for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Mukaila, who was a member of the Action Congress (AC) and later Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before joining PDP, was an aspirant for the Assembly seat in 2014 on the platform of the main opposition party but lost to the eventual preferred candidate of the party.
In 2019, he was massively elected as the candidate of the PDP for the Assembly seat in the general elections but the party lost to APC.
He is a business man and socialite from Laiye-Ode Lafose in Ijomu, Ikorodu.
He attended 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.
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.
On his own, Mukaila has floated other companies and other private initiatives.
He is a humanitarian who has been assisting many individuals and during the COVID 19 lockdown, he played a prominent role in providing food items as support for many households in Ikorodu.
Hammed Idowu (Collabo) is another popular figure within the Divisional PDP circle. He is a native of Igbogbo in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.
The aspirant, who is vying for the Ikorodu Constituency II seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Thursday, April 14, 2022, secured the endorsement of the De Vanguard, a political and socio – economic group in lgbogbo, as its preferred PDP candidate for the seat.
Hammed attended Methodist Primary School, Igbogbo and Reri Senior Secondary School, Oreta.
He was Secretary, Electoral Committee, Igbogbo Students’ Union Government (ISU), Vice President ISU, Chairman, Electoral Committee, ISU, Vice Chairman, National Youths and Students Assembly (NYSA), Lagos State Chapter, PDP Coordinator, National Youths and Students Assembly, Ikorodu chapter (PDP).
He was the PDP Councillorship candidate in Ward C2, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA in 2021.
Dr. Balogun Rotimi Olatunbosun, aka ‘BRO’, was a member of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and candidate of the party for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The aspirant holds a PhD, from the British – American University, Florida, USA.
He is a Fellow of the Princeton Academy, Lagos and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Loans and Risk Management, Lagos.
Balogun, who is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, R & B Ventures, Victoria Island, Lagos, had worked with Oceanic Bank PLC and Corporate Guard Limited.
He is a real estate expert.
Hon. Abayomi Bork Shamusideen Ayanlaja, generally called, ‘Omo Adugbo Temi’, is a popular PDP figure across the Ikorodu Division.
He was a former elected Council member in the Ikorodu Local Government Legislative Arm and former PDP candidate for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat.
He decamped to APC during his Councilorship aspiration but returned to PDP after he served.
He is campaigning for the 2023 Assembly seat with the slogan, ‘The New Hope 2023’.
‘Omo Adugbo’ is also very popular among local residents, especially the youths.
Prince Adewale Isiaka Oyebo is another PDP aspirant for Ikorodu Constituency II.
Oyebo is A Prince of Egbin Kingdom in Ijede LCDA of Ikorodu Constituency II.
