Kunle Adelabu
Mrs Omotolani Popoola and Adelunle, PDP House of Representatives aspirants Mr Awesu
It is most likely that no member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be challenging the incumbent, Rep. Babajimi Benson, for the Ikorodu Federal Constituency seat at the Federal House of Representatives. However, the same can not be said about the opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which, according to report, is definitely going to field a candidate to contest against the APC candidate in the 2023 General Elections.
The postulation that Rep. Benson may probably not have anybody from his party to challenge him for his seat, is not as a result of lack of quality aspirant within the ruling party’s ranks, but rather due to his popularity and the general belief by residents and party members that the young and vibrant federal lawmaker has successfully delivered an impactful legislative and representative duties in the last seven years and that as a result, is deservedly primed for another term.
Presently, four aspirants on the platform of the PDP have shown interests in displacing the incumbent representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency who is currently serving a second term and presently the Chairman, House Committee on Defense.
To the PDP aspirants, democracy is all about programmes, popularity, canvassing for votes and contesting elections; all of which they are ready for as they prepare to challenge Rep. Benson and the ruling APC in the coming general elections.
Mrs Popoola Ramota Omotolani, the PDP candidate for the Ikorodu Federal Constituency position in the 2019 general elections, is once again aspiring to vie for the position.
She is an indigene of both Ikorodu and Igbogbo. She was born into the Chief Rasheed Disu of Itun-Lire Compound in Isele Area of Ikorodu and Alhaja Khadijat Disu (nee Agbemami) of Ijaolu Osho-Ojuba Ruling House of Igbogbo and Boge family of Itunmoja Ikorodu.
The former candidate is a graduate of English from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos, and she also holds the Nigeria Certificate in Education (English/Social Studies) from Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Ijanikin Lagos.
Omotolani attended Reigners Computer Institute Ikorodu where she bagged a Diploma in Computer Appreciation and Desktop Publishing in 1999.
She is an Educationist with over twenty years teaching experience in the private sector. She has been teaching even before her journey to the university/college for higher education.
She was the Head Teacher in Teihlar Nursery & Primay School, Ikorodu, Cedar Valley Nursery & Primary School, Ikorodu and currently the Head Mistress (HM) at Elohi Vine Nursery, Pry and Sec School, Ikorodu.
Popoola’s interest in politics dates back to 2000, when she registered as a card carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
She was a Councillorship candidate of the party in 2008 and 2017 during the Local Government elections but lost to the ruling party’s candidates.
The former PDP candidate came second behind the ruling party’s candidate and the incumbent Representative, Rep. Babajimi Benson with over 22,000 votes.
Prominent among the PDP aspirants for the House of Representatives seat is Mr Awesu Abdulazeez Adekunle who is probably the first to show interest and also the most visible with his campaign posters.
He has also been sponsoring campaigns for sensitization of electorates to register or revalidate their Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC). Through this, he has been able to mobilise new voters and registered himself in the minds of the Ikorodu electorates, in the process.
Awesu holds a Masters of Science degree in Transportation Planning and Management from University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos and a Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
His passion and drive have enabled him to gain valuable exposure in the field of Construction and Logistics.
He’s the Quantity Surveyor, Awe & Supo Associates Limited, (October, 2016– Date), where he supervised projects in Ikorodu, Ajah, Owerri among many other places.
He was the Assistant Quantity Officer, Brickhouse Construction Company (March, 2014 – October, 2016). While in the service of the company, he had the privilege of handling projects in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and other parts of Lagos.
He made his formal declaration of his aspiration at his party’s secretariat, Olubi Street, Ikorodu, about two weeks ago, becoming the first aspirant to do that on the platform of PDP.
Odeyale Temitope Alaba, a graduate of Computer Engineering and self-employed, is another aspirant that wants to represent the Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Abuja, come 2023.
He established and worked at Oceanicdara Ventures Limited with RC: 1258782, since 2015.
He bagged his National Diploma (ND), Computer Engineering, from the Osun State Polytechnic (2007 – 2009) and later had his Higher National Diploma in the same course and institution between 2012 and 2014.
He did his National Youth Service Corps in Katsina State (2016 – 2017).
Odeyale was a Councillorship aspirant for Bye Election in 2017, aspirant for the Lagos State House Of Assembly in 2019 and member of the Atiku Support Group in Lagos in 2019.
The fourth aspirant is Mr Abdul-Kareem Olugbenga Shittu who is also an indigene of Ikorodu.
