Although, the 2023 general elections are still several months away, the battle to contest for political offices, has already begun in earnest for politicians who are aspiring to either retain their positions or unseat the incumbents, across the country.
The situation is not different in Ikorodu division where scores of aspirants have already declared their intentions to run for various political offices, particularly the Ikorodu Constituency l and II seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
While it is generally believed that Ikorodu Federal Constituency seat might not witness any serious contest because of the superb performance of the incumbent, Hon. Babajimi Benson who has already been given the greenlight by the entire division to seek a third term, the same cannot be said of the occupants of the two Assembly seats, Hon. S.O.B Agunbiade of Ikorodu Constituency l and Hon. Nurudeen Solaja of Ikorodu Constituency II, both of whom will battle hard to retain their seats, if the current political situations in the two constituencies are anything to go by.
Hon. Agunbiade, the eloquent and performing lawmaker who is also the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, recently made public his ambition to seek re-election for a record 5th term but his aspiration is currently facing stiff opposition from some sections of the Constituency, who are urging him to drop his ambition for others to equally take their turn to represent the constituency come 2023.
There are, however, many others who are supporting his ambition on the ground that he is performing and possess the needed experience and competence to represent Ikorodu people in the best way possible.
His Ikorodu Constituency II counterpart, Hon. Solaja is equally facing same opposition as he is currently being battled for attempting to seek reelection for the third term despite the alleged agreement that he would vacate the seat for another candidate from Ijede upon completion of his second term, in accordance with the rotational arrangement instituted in the Constituency to ensure that the Assembly seat go round the three councils (Ijede, Imota and Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDAs) that made up of the Ikorodu Constituency II.
Over the past weeks, scores of aspirants in Ikorodu Constituency l and II, have come out to declare their intentions to contest for the two coveted seats on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to give the incumbents a good run for their money.
To say that both Hon. Agunbiade and Hon. Solaja will have torrid time battling several aspirants who have already thrown their hats in the ring to wrestle the seats from them, is just like saying the obvious.
Like the two incumbents, some of these aspirants, have gone ahead to obtain their nomination forms as a way of showing that they are serious contenders for the Assembly seats.
Below are some of the Aspirants for the Ikorodu Constituency l seat on the platform of APC.
GBOLAHAN OGUNLEYE
He is the son of the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye.
He recently declared for the race and also has obtained the nomination form.
It was gathered that his father, who is a chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision making body in the state and Apex leader in Ikorodu Division APC, has told many that his support this time around will be for his son and no other.
This, we gathered, has destabilized some of the aspirants that received the support and backing of the former Deputy Governor in the last general elections and they are probably reconsidering their aspiration.
Gbolahan served as the Sole Administrator of Ikorodu Local Government before the emergence of Hon. Wasiu Adeshina as Chairman.
MR. OLUWATOYIN GAFAAR BOLOWOTAN
Another major contender is Mr. Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, the Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission who aspired for the much coveted seat in 2019.
It was gathered that Bolowotan, who said few months ago that he would not be contesting for the Assembly seat this time around, may have changed his mind to contest due to the pressure on him.
His supporters have been propagating his ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, the same mantra he used in his campaign when he last aspired for the seat.
He has since rebuilt his political base and currently embarking on visitations to various wards in Constituency l, to woo party members in readiness for the party’s primary election.
He has also rebuilt his political base and mobilising the grassroots for the purpose.
The sport administrator, who has made his mark in the sporting sector, especially since he emerged as the Director-General of the Sports Commission, received maximum support from the former Deputy Governor in the last election and it is not known yet how much the aspiration of Gbolahan will affect his own intention.
Bolowotan is a formidable aspirant with strong financial muscle and backing. He recently obtained his nomination form.
HON. ADEOLA MUYIDEEN JOKOMBA
Also in contention for the Assembly seat is Hon. Muhydeen Adeola Jokomba, a former two-term Chairman, of Ikorodu North LCDA.
Jokomba, who has a good track record, aspired to represent the people of Ikorodu Constituency l in 2019, but the incumbent was favoured.
He’s one of the first set of aspirants that declared their intention to contest for the Assembly seat.
Jokomba is not only popular in the grassroots but also well connected with the party structure.
The former Council boss has Masters in Social Work – Lagos State University (LASU) and Clinical Psychology – Western Ville University, San Diego, California, USA. He’s also pursuing his Doctorate degree in Social Work at the Lagos State University (LASU).
MR BOLAJI ISIKALU
Another aspirant jostling to displace the incumbent is a young Information Technology (IT) and entrepreneur, Mr. Bolaji Isikalu.
The aspirant, who made his presence felt in a very big way, especially on social media, is campaigning based on the theme, “SHIFT’.
To Isikalu, it’s time for a generational shift from the era of the old political war horse to era of the younger generation. .
Isikalu is a young entrepreneur, information technology expert and media consultant.
The young lad, who has been handling jobs for many organisations (both private and public) and also individuals, is bringing an innovative campaign strategy into the game.
Like other aspirants, he has also obtained his nomination form too.
PRINCE ENIOLA ‘WAKE-UP’ ADEYEMI
The son of late Asiwaju Adeyemi Wake-Up is another young and enterprising lad that is interested in unseating Hon. Agunbiade.
Prince Eniola ‘Wake-Up’ Adeyemi, is a young entrepreneur and investor who, like his late father, has a good grasp of the grassroots.
He is the most visible aspirant in terms of public awareness going by the presence of his posters at every nook and cranny of Ikorodu. He’s also among the aspirants that announced their interest early and mobilizing for support.
He is a young man that is independent and always goes for what he desires with determination and zeal.
He has massive followership among youths in Ikorodu.
Eniola, we also gathered, has the required connections in the state and Abuja where he has his businesses, to pull strings for him.
MR YINKA MAJEKODUNMI
Mr. Yinka Majekodunmi, popularly called ‘Majek,’ is another aspirant who is aspiring to unseat the incumbent.
He aspired for the same position in 2019 when he exhibited his seriousness in the race by taking his campaign everywhere.
He was one of the few aspirants that accepted the decision of the party and that of the people, after the incumbent emerged as the candidate of the APC.
He is back in the game to continue from where he stopped and has been mobilizing and canvassing for support.
Majek is currently a senior official of the Lagos State lnternal Revenue Service (LIRS).
COMRADE SAMSON BISIRIYU
Comrade Samson Bisiriyu is the Executive Director, Ikorodu Division Youth Initiative (IDYI) and the convener, #Not TooYoungToRun in Ikorodu Division.
Samson is a grassroots mobiliser, youth leader and agent of youth empowerment.
He has used his capacity and connections to facilitate various empowerment progammes and equipment for trained youths to start their businesses across the Ikorodu Division.
He is also in the service of the Lagos State Internal Generated Revenue.
A major point of his campaign, aside showing that youths must be considered for elective positions, is to awaken the consciousness of the people of Ikorodu West and Ikorodu North LCDAs to what he termed the dominance of Ikorodu (Central) Local Government.
He has been putting the issue of unseating the incumbent in front burner in his campaign.
MR NURUDEEN YEKINNI AGBAJE
Mr. Nurudeen Yekinni Agbaje, popularly called ‘Nero’, is another aspirant who has been nursing the intention to unseat Hon. Agunbiade, since last general elections.
Nero is a popular businessman and land developer. He is the brain behind the development of the highbrow Elepe Estate in Gbasemo, Aga.
He pooled massive crowd, especially among the youths in the grassroots, in 2019.
He is also expected to give the incumbent stiff challenge this time around.
MR. BABAWALE BISIRIYU ALOGBA.
Another aspirant for the Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly seat is Babawale Bisiriyu Alogba from the popular Alogba family in Ikorodu. .
For the Ikorodu Constituency II Assembly seat, among those aspiring to unseat the incumbent are : Hon. Salisu Fathiu Jimoh, former Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Gbenga Oshin, former member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Hameed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA), a former Commissioner nominee and prominent youth leader, Mr. Kunle Aliasu Matti, a senior civil servant and prominent youth leader, Mr. Taoreed Akeem Babajide, Mr Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA) and Mr. Oluwatosin Onamade, a former aspirant for the Ijede LCDA Chairmanship seat.