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Tag: council poll

  • Lagos council polls: Police arrest five party agents

    Lagos council polls: Police arrest five party agents

    The Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command on Saturday arrested five men with incriminating materials in Ikeja, as the local government elections got underway.

    The spokesman for the command, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Famous-Cole said that the suspects,  who claimed to be agents to a political party, were arrested with incriminating materials at 8.30a.m.

    “They have been handed over to the Area F Command, which will send them to the special team for election crimes at the state Criminal Investigation Department for further investigations.”

    Meanwhile, security agencies, including the police, military, Security and Civil Defence Corps and Immigration, have deployed their personnel to strategic locations in different parts of Lagos to ensure peaceful local government elections.

    A senior police officer who sought anonymity on the Funso Williams Avenue in Surulere, where security men put barricades,  told NAN that the area command observed that some residents were flouting the restriction order.

    He, however, gave the assurance that those with genuine reasons would be allowed to continue their journey.

    NAN reports that the movement restriction began at 7.00am. It will end at 3.00pm.

    Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission is conducting Chairmanship and Councillorship elections in its 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.

    Twelve political parties are participating the election.

    They are: Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Alliance for Democracy ( AD ), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ), Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    The others are United Democratic Party (UDP), United Progressive Party (UPP), Kowa Party (KP), National Action Council (NAC) and Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). (NAN)

  • 30,000 policemen for council poll

    Thirty thousand policemen will be deployed for Saturday’s Lagos State local government election, Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni said yesterday.

    The police chief said the security agencies were “well prepared” for the poll.

    According to him, the police and sister agencies have been meeting to ensure hitchfree election.

    He said an inter-agency committee had been raised and is operational plan drawn with special attention to flashpoints.

    Owoseni said: “The command can say that security agencies are fully prepared for the local council election. We have scheduled training/workshop for participating agencies. We have also fashioned out an interactive session with representatives of political parties and candidates for the election. We are looking at deploying 30,000 personnel to cover the election. This figure would be augmented by personnel from sister agencies.

    “We are using this forum to warn all those, who plan to cause trouble or truncate the exercise that they won’t be given any chance. Violence would not be tolerated. We are poised to ensure that the election and electioneering are devoid of violence.

    “We would discharge our responsibilities and obligations in consonance with the Lagos State Electoral Laws. The electorate, candidates and officials are assured of their safety and security. Anyone who dares to test the ability of security forces will have himself/herself to blame because perpetrators of violence would face the wrath of the law.

    “Political parties are advised to discharge their obligations under the electoral laws with regards to necessary voter education. If all involved play their roles well, the election would be hitchfree.”

     

  • Council poll: Court grants application for joinder in suit against APC

    Council poll: Court grants application for joinder in suit against APC

    Justice Olugbenga Ogundare of an Ikeja High Court has ordered that Emmanuel Bamgboye be joined as the third defendant in a suit filed by Ishola Karaole against the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justice Ogundare gave the order while ruling on an application seeking to be joined in the suit.

    Karaole is challenging the conduct of the Mushin Local Government Area primary of the APC on May 27 at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

    The politician described the primary as controversial.

    He said the party allegedly imposed some candidates, contrary to the party’s guidelines, on Mushin Local Government Area.

    According to him, no delegates from the constituency were available to choose a candidate from a list of aspirants for the chairmanship position.

    Karaole said the APC constitution stipulates that a candidate for the local government chairman will be voted for by delegates from the list of aspirants.

    The APC stalwart filed a suit before Justice Olugbemiga Ogundare, joining the APC and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) as first and second defendants.

    He prayed the court to declare that the primaries held on May 27 on the chairmanship of Mushin Local Government Area for July 22 election contradicted Article 20(i),(ii),(iii )&(iv) of the party’s constitution.

    Karaole is also praying the court to order that the state APC did not hold primaries, as there were no delegates while the names of “imposed” candidates were allegedly presented by some party members to be forwarded to LASIEC.

    He is seeking an order of court that any list of returned APC candidates is null and void as the candidates, allegedly, were not elected through democratic primaries, as provided for iin the party’s Constitution.

    The APC stalwart is praying the court to order fresh council primaries before the July 22 elections.

    On July 14, when judgment was to be delivered in the matter, Bamgboye brought an application, dated July 12, to be joined as a party in the suit.

    In the application filed through his counsel, Dele Adesina (SAN), Bamgboye claimed to be the winner of the May 27 primary election in Mushin.

    Adesina requested for three orders from the court on behalf of his client.

    The lawyer prayed the court for an order granting leave to join Bamgboye as a defendant in the suit and an order joining him as the third defendant.

    He also prayed for an order directing that all parties should serve his client the originating summons and applications filed on the matter.

    Justice Ogundare ordered that Bamgboye be joined as a necessary party in the suit.

    He said: “The applicant has convincingly shown, with his exhibits, that he is not only interested in the suit but that the matter will be unfairly dealt with if he is not joined as a party.

    “The applicant therein has a right to be joined as a party to the suit. I hereby give the following orders:

    “An order that Emmanuel Bamgboye be joined as an applicant in this suit.

    “An order that the applicant should be joined as a third defendant in this suit.

    “The claimants and existing parties should amend the originating summons, dated June 1 and other court processes, to reflect the name of the third defendant.”

    The court declined the request of some of the lawyers to stop Bamgboye from participating in the July 22 local government elections.

    Justice Ogundare told the counsel that the High Court was on vacation, adding that the case file would be sent to the Chief Judge for reassignment to a vacation judge.

     

  • Voting APC candidates in council poll ‘ll strengthen governance—Razak

    Voting APC candidates in council poll ‘ll strengthen governance—Razak

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and the Balogun of Epe, Chief Lanre Razak, in this interview with EMMANUEL OLADESU, speaks on the party’s primary and the chances of the chairmanship and councillorship candidates in the July 22 local government elections.

    How united is your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the July 22 local government election in Lagos state?

    We are very united. The APC is one united family. You may think the outburst of a few individuals who want positions in the party and they are not getting it should be taken seriously. Don’t use that as a yardstick to determine the unity of the party.  We want to believe that it is a question of people that want positions in government and it is power.  If you don’t get it, you can apply a lot of ways to let people know you are missing something.  But, at the end of the day, I want to assure you that the APC as a party has a very strong mechanism to resolve all issues and remain united.

    Have you pacified those who felt aggrieved during the council primaries?

    That is a job for the state chairman of the party and elders to do, and they are doing it. And I don’t think it is necessary I put the details on the pages of newspapers. but, I know those in charge and who know the process  of resolving this kind of situation are really working hard.  For everyone missing any form of position and those to be given, all of us will smile together.

    Are there assurances that angry party members won’t undermine the APC during the council poll?

    That could be the imagination of some people. they have considered the option available with the way we are talking and discussing and they believe remaining with the party will be a better option for them.

    After all, it is only one chairman in a local government and you know that there is no local government in Lagos state that we don’t have up to one million people and out of one million people, if one person want something and did not get it, you cannot because of that destroy the party. I am aware that the party has assured that all aspirants who could not make it, there is an opportunity, there is a lot of positions for them to share.  There are supervisors in the council, there are secretaries to government.  They will be pacified  and the elders of the party are working hard, it won’t be winner takes all, we are not telling candidates to hell with you, no, we are talking to all our members to see reason with us.

    So you may question the process that produced the candidates because you don’t know what we know and you don’t see what we see. There is no perfection in humanity and you can’t have a perfect situation in everything you do but because of the facts and information available to the party leadership they have done what is considered to be the best option as at now.

    What is your reaction to the recent observation by the APC national legal adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, that the primary was flawed?

    I will not take that opinion as the official position of the national leadership of the APC, I will take it as a reaction of an individual who only happens to be legal adviser in the national level because what we call a political party involves a lot and if anybody is at that level and you don’t think or believe you should do certain things that will remedy the situation rather expose and aggravate the situation, I don’t think that is right. You should evolve a culture that will unify the party rather than throwing stones and bricks to the party from whatever position for whatever reasons.  This is not the first time a primary election of a major political party is being organized.  When you organize a political party, you are taking decisions over people and when decisions are taken and they are not in the best interest of the people, a true and sincere national leadership should now the channel of addressing these issues rather than national legal adviser threatening to take the state chairman to court, a state where you came from. And that is why the issue of true federalism had to be considered than the restructuring that some people are talking about, it should start from the party because if I am a national officer of a party, if the state does certain things that I don’t like, not in tandem with my own personal proposal then I just rise up and use my national status to say a lot of things, is not right. I don’t see Banire position on this matter as the official position of the national leadership of the party. If I may ask; is there a petition from the state to the national body in respect of the process? And if the answer is yes, is it to the National Chairman and the National Working Committee of the party? Has a decision been taken on the matter? There are ways of handling things. I don’t think because he has said one thing or the other that is not in tandem with the chain of command of a political party, he is saying something very important, I don’t believe so. No matter how bad the primary election in Lagos was conducted, the leadership should sit down and examine how to correct the wrong. I don’t think it is the right thing for you to discredit your party for whatever reason because if you remove value from your party, you lose election and the major role of a political party is to provide the platform to win elections and be in charge of government. How do you reconcile what Banire said with the principle and major reason why we set up a political party? The major reason of forming a party is to win elections, run government and run a very credible and successful government. But when the entire structure of the party has been condemned, that they cannot manage the party or do things that are right, are you strengthening the faith of the electorate or are you telling them that it is dangerous organisation?

    Is there party discipline in the APC and what are the factors that will give victory to your party on July 22nd?

    Yes. There is no organisation that will not think of discipline to ensure a disciplined group or society. There is a mechanism for party discipline, I think what we are facing now is not just saying because something has been done wrongly let’s set up a disciplinary committee, no. But, the most important issue is what we should do to improve the image of the party. Luckily for us in Lagos State we have the foundation of government laid by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was elected governor in 1999 that stood strong and his successors and subsequent governments have been improving on it. Mr. Babatunde  Raji Fashola did his own and the incumbent Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is doing a wonderful job in the state. You can imagine we had rains for almost eight days and many of our roads turned bad but since I have been moving round I discovered that most of the roads that were bad are being repaired by officials of Lagos State Public Works Corporation who are working day and night.  Those are the kind of things that citizens will be happy to see and what the public would be happy to see, that government is rendering service to those we should.  They are meeting the needs of the people and meet their requirements and this kind of good work Governor Ambode is doing is strengthening the confidence of the electorate in the APC and I strongly believe the people will stay put in the party.

    What gives your party the confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not defeat it in the council election like the case in Osun recently?

    The only thing Nigerians understand in politics today is a political party who will meet their needs and aspirations. As long as the APC continues to meet their needs and deliver good governance to the people based on the resources available to the government, the voters will stand by us. I am confident that the APC will sweep the election given the tremendous achievements of the administration of Governor Ambode so far. I want to assure you that Lagosians are happy with his sterling performance.

    You cannot use what happened elsewhere to determine what will happen in Lagos, Lagosians are very   articulate, who are not going to be taken for granted like what happened elsewhere, you know too well that I know Lagos and I know people of Lagos and I know what they can do and they strongly believe in APC. There will be no surprises in the forthcoming council election, I can assure you of that.

    What is your assessment of preparations by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for the poll?

    They are men and women of honour and they are tested people. They will give you a free, fair and transparent election and the result will be acceptable to all Lagosians. The process of conducting election will guarantees its outcome. It is a a straight process, the voter should go to polling unit, collect your ballot paper, thumbprint and drop it in the box. The votes will be counted and the result announced in the open by the officials and many observers will be there.

    What is your advice to voters?

    My advice is that already they have a very good government in the state and that is APC government under Mr. Ambode performing wonders in all aspects of human endeavours. They need council s that will support that government to replicate the good job the governor is doing across the 57 local governments and local council development areas. My appeal to Lagosians is that it is not a personal matter, it is a matter that concerns all of us which is the progress and development of the State of Excellence that should come before any other issue. They should go out on the 22nd of July and vote APC candidates to ensure continuity, continuous development in all areas including infrastructure, education, health and other sectors so that Lagos will remain a pacesetter and home to all Nigerians.

  • Council poll: Lagos restricts vehicular movement

    •Ashafa seeks victory for APC

    The Lagos State Government has announced restriction of vehicular movement on Saturday between 8am and 2pm due to elections scheduled for the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said the action was to allow for a smooth conduct of the poll and unhindered participation.

    He urged residents to be peaceful and orderly while casting their votes.

    The election, he said, will bring on board a new set of public officers for the next four years at the council level.

    “The police and other security agencies are ready to ensure that the electioneering campaign and the voting on Saturday are conducted smoothly without public disturbance. Every political party, candidates and their supporters and the general public are hereby assured of safety throughout the period of voting and collation.

    “However, the government solicits the cooperation of voters and the general public by obeying the restriction order and the general electoral rules in order to ensure a peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections,” Ayorinde said.

    The release also quoted Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as urging Lagosians to perform their civic obligations by trooping out with their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) “to once again demonstrate their belief in the tenets of participatory democracy and the importance of development at the local government level.”

    Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa has urged Lagosinas to cast their votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.

    At the 18th edition of his Town Hall meeting with the constituents of Lagos East Senatorial District held at CMD Road, Ikosi-Ketu, Ashafa said: “I urge you all to troop out en masse to support the candidates of our party. By doing this, we would be able to replicate the development we are witnessing in state at the grassroots through the synchronised efforts of the state and local government areas.”

    According to him, the success at the election would prepare the groundwork for APC’s win at the general elections in 2019.

    Victory of his party, he said, would ensure the success of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in his relentless effort to promoting the state to loftier heights.

    APC chieftains in Lagos East, Alhaji Sakiru Seriki and Princess Aderenle Adeniran-Ogunsanya, who were at the meeting, urged party supporters to ensure victory for the party on Saturday.

    They hailed Ashafa for regular interactions with his constituent.

    The event, attended by over 1,500 people, featured medical outreach.

    The medical services ranged from blood pressure, body mass, blood glucose, cholesterol, diabetes, hearing and dental check-ups and medical advice.

    Ashafa also initiated an empowerment programme for 500 widows.

  • LASIEC unveils candidates for poll

    LASIEC unveils candidates for poll

    •Politicians storm commission’s office

    Politicians yesterday besieged the Yaba head office of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to view the list of candidates for the July 22 council poll.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 100 politicians, some of them candidates, were seen at the office.

    The list contained the names of no fewer than 1,300 chairmanship and councillorship candidates of various parties.

    No fewer than 20 candidates of different parties had their candidacy invalidated for not meeting eligibility criteria.

    Some others have the validation of their candidacy pending as they were asked to present either their tax clearance certificate, Curriculum Vitae or both for clearance.

    LASIEC Chairman, Retired Justice Ayotunde Phillips, had told newsmen on June 30 that parties could still present substitutes for those invalidated, who would make the final list after meeting eligibility criteria.

    The names of all the candidates for Odi-Olowo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) were conspicuously missing on the list.

    Last Friday, an Ikeja High Court nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in the area and ordered a fresh one.

    Also, all the candidates of the National Conscience Party (NCP) were missing on the list.

    The chairman of NCP in the state, Fatai Ibu-Owo had told NAN that the party’s candidates were shut out of the process, and were not given forms as they were challenging the payment of administrative fees imposed by LASIEC.

    He said the party was in court with LASIEC over the fees, but the case had yet to be heard.

    However, the name of Aina Michael, (Aka Aina Gold) a Nollywood actor in the Yoruba genre, was validated as Alliance for Democracy (AD) Chairmanship candidate in Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA.

    Augustine Arogundade was validated as Chairmanship candidate of the APC in the area.

    Also, Mr Kamal Bashua was validated as APC candidate for Lagos Island East LCDA while Yisa Oladimeji (PDP) and Tijani Olusi (APC) were validated for Lagos Island LGA.

    Asked to comment on the list and other issues arising from it, the commission’s Director of Publicity, Mr Oladapo Olatunde, said a statement would be issued to cover all the questions.

    He said the commission was an impartial umpire in the process and would treat all parties equally.

    LASIEC has fixed the council poll for July 22, and run-off for July 29.

    The poll is to elect chairmen and councillors in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 LCDAs in the state.

     

  • Appeal Court orders Enugu CJ to fast-track APC’s council poll suit

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu has ordered the Chief Judge of Enugu State to accelerate the hearing and determination of a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the legality of local government caretaker committees in the state.

    The appellate court gave the order yesterday on the appeal filed by APC challenging the ruling of an Enugu State High Court, which struck out names of Ikeje Asogwa, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the PDP from a suit challenging the caretaker committees.

    APC had appealed the ruling of Justice Romanus Odugu of Enugu State High Court on the grounds that if the names of Asogwa and the PDP, the beneficiaries of the caretaker committee, were removed, there would be nobody to be sued.

    Delivering judgment, the three-man panel of the Appeal Court, comprising Justices Ignatius Agube, Joseph Tur and A. Femi, held that the State High Court committed a miscarriage of justice by striking out the names of respondents in the suit before it.

    The justices said the ruling of the lower court was wrong and it aside the ruling.

    The court ordered that the case file be remitted to the Chief Judge to determine the legality of the caretaker committees on the originating summons filed.

    Following the expiration of the tenure of elected council chairmen on January 5, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi constituted a two-man caretaker committee to run the affairs of the 17 local government areas, pending the conduct of local government elections.

    In the motion on notice before the State High Court, the APC members were seeking an order to set aside the appointment of the caretaker committees.

    They insisted that the appointments contravened the Constitution and should be upturned while council elections should be conducted forthwith.

     

  • Council poll: Elders back APC candidates

    Council poll: Elders back APC candidates

    Leaders of Thought Forum in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State yesterday threw its weight behind chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next month’s election.

    At a parley with the leading candidates, hosted by a former Mushin Local Government Chairman Apostle Babatunde Odele, the forum said it decided to pitch its tent with the party because of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership quality and the sterling performance of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in his two years in office.

    The two leading candidates Mr Emmanuel Bamigboye (Mushin) and Mr Rasaq Ajala (Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area) attended the meeting with the councillorship candidates.

    Forum chairman Alhaji Ademola Adedokun, described the gathering as a blessing to the aspirants.

    Adedokun said the July 22 election would be a litmus test of the candidates’ stewardship at the grassroots.

    Apostle Odele described those present as “tested, trusted and proven loyal candidates of repute.”

    The former chairman enjoined the candidates to deliver the dividends of democracy when elected.

    “You should emulate the good work of our result-oriented governor, the new Atunluse of Lagos Akinwunmi Ambode and his executive members, especially the Commissioner for the Environment Dr Babatunde Adejare.” he said.

    According to him, the peace and tranquillity that had pervaded Mushin and Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye in recent time were incomparable. He said they shoud be maintained.

    “Kindly be trailblazers in your political career with humility and respect for others to follow. It is our belief that your humility and loyalty to the political leadership, Elders and all respected political stakeholders will surely earn you victory in the poll,” Apostle Odele said.

    Bamigboye and Ajala thanked the elders and appealed to them to bring into their fold other elders in the two councils.

    Having many of them in your forum, Bamigboye said, would be beneficial to both the forum and the councils.

    Bamigboye said: “It is normal to have aggrieved parties, but we must reconcile to move forward. We must not allow our differences in the course of the primaries to make us sworn enemies. Our party’s unwritten slogan is turn by turn. I have contested for assembly seat twice unsuccessfully. I was told to go and wait for my turn by our party leaders. I didn’t leave the party or rock the boat. Help us appeal to the aggrieved members to return and join us to move the party forward.”

    Ajala said residents in both councils should expect more dividends of democracy.

    According to him, Governor Ambode had set a difficult yardstick in developmental projects with his sterling performance.

    “We know we are not coming in for a play going by the achievements of our amiable governor. I want to say that we are prepared to complement his efforts at the grassroots. We will not disappoint our party and the electorate.

    “We appeal to all and sundry to make their votes count for the APC and together we shall make Lagos greater,” he said.

     

  • Council poll: Aspirants urge members to stay calm

    Council poll: Aspirants urge members to stay calm

    Four of the six chairmanship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have urged members in the 57 local governments and local council development area to remain calm and support the party to ensure victory in the coming election.
    The aspirants, under the aegis of Concerned Ejigbo LCDA Chairmanship Aspirants, in a statement yesterday in Lagos urged the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other stakeholders to jettison the issue of consensus candidate.
    They said in the interest of all, the party leadership should make a pronouncement on the next line of action.
    The aspirants said they will work with anyone who is picked among them as the candidate.

  • Jakande’s, Jafojo’s, Olusi’s sons for council poll

    Jakande’s, Jafojo’s, Olusi’s sons for council poll

    The son of former Lagos State Governor Lateef Jakande, Seyi, has joined the chairmanship race in Ojuwoye local councl.

    Also, Adeniyi Jafojo, son of former Deputy Governor Rafiu Jafojo, is eyeing the chairmanship of Agege local government.

    In Lagos Island West, Sola Olusi, son of Prince Tajudeen Olusi, is among those jostling for chairmanship ticket.

    These childern of legends are contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The poll holds on June 20.

    Jafojo called for concerted efforts to tackle grassroots problems.

    He said if elected as the chairman of the Agege Local Government Area, his administration would make life better by confronting the obstacles that hinder its development.

    He said: “One of the plans we have is to bring investors to Agege and once that is done, there will be lots of programmes that will open up the council. As I discuss with you, we are talking with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in terms of how we can partner with them. We have to start looking inward; we cannot be expecting allocation all the time from the government to better the lives of our people. We must also put in place programmes that will attract investors to the community.”

    Jafojo added: “There are some abnormalities that I saw in my local government, which I believe can be better handled, when compared to other local governments. We need to uplift the local government and that boils down to how we handle it. One of the areas we have serious problem is Agege and that is youth unrest. We have not been able to sit down and capture the scene properly. Again, we have serious environmental problem because people dump refuse in the canal indiscriminately. It has led to flooding and making the gutters unkempt. Some houses do not have public toilet. this constitutes health hazards.

    Jafojo promised to tackle environmental problems. He said: “These are serious environmental issues that have negative health consequences. We must come as people to see how we can find solution to these problems. In my own campaign manifesto and based on the research conducted, Agege residents are facing surmountable problems. How we can improve on the amenities that the council is providing. these are issues that we have looked into. When all these are addressed, we can begin to see what we call new Agege. And by the grace of God, when elected as the council chairman, these are part of the things people are to see from the administration.

    “Given my record in grassroots mobilisation which I learned from my late father and for those who know my late father, they know that he was a grassroots mobiliser. We want people to enjoy the dividend of democracy. The only way you can enjoy the dividend of democracy is to put the right person in the right position. I believe that I am the person who is eminently qualified for the position.

    The aspirant said his chance of winning the election was very bright, noting that his father’s reputation would count for him.

    “One of the advantages that I enjoy is that the name Jafojo is a house hold name in Agege. One of the things that we did is that we started our campaign organization on September 2014 and we have not look back since then. We have engaged in different programmes to create the awareness in the council. In the last election, we were heavily involved in the Presidential campaign, I was fortunate to be the coordinator for campaign for change.

    “The group campaigned on behalf of the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. We were able to do a lot of grassroots mobilization by providing them with the T-shirts, face caps and other souvenirs. We have been meeting in different wards; a lot of executive members have been involved in our discussion with the people.

    The aspirant said he was fit to rule because of his pedigree. He said: “Personally, I am well known in Agege because somebody like my father would say if you were contesting, the first place you go to is the grassroots. One of my advantages like that of my father is the ability to mobilise the grassroots.

    Jafojo maintained that his experience and exposure put him in a vantage position to implement laudable programmes for the council.

    “I studied abroad. I studied at Mitchell University, Atlanta, Georgia. When I came back, I worked with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Abuja. It is a parastal under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. My position at that time was the Chief Admin Officer, the third man in my department. If you take my director, the assistant director, I was the third man on the hierarchy. By virtue of that task, I strongly believe that somebody at that position is very well prepared for the position of a local government chairman.

    “While I was there, we were involved in different programmes. Of course, one of the programmes that come to mind was that of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGOM). I was part of the Central Working Committee (CWC).

    Jafojo noted that he was committed to the contest in view of his believe that he would emerge successful, adding that his relations with non-indigene will add value to the contest.

    “I am very popular and my family name is a household name. Within my own base, Ward B for example, my women leader is a Hausa woman. Among our members, you find lots of Hausa people. I strongly believe that we all have to work together for the advancement of local government. My people will say one hand cannot wash itself, so we must put hands together to achieve that. I work with a lot of non indigene and I believe that with unity we can achieve a better Agege.

    “I believe the party will conduct free and fair primary. Again, I have structure which I believe will make them choose me as the person who will be the next chairman of Agege local government.”

    Jakande said he will lift Ojuwoye Council to a greater height by implementing progressive programmes which his father is noted for.

    He promised to harness the resource in the area to develop the council and make it a model in Lagos.

    Olusi said Lagos Island West will grow from strenght to strenght under his leadership, promising to motivate the private sector to invest in the development of the council.