Lagos West Senatorial Election: Why Adebule towers over other contenders

• She’s Tested, Capable And Reliable, Says Campaign Council DG
The coming 2023 Lagos West senatorial election is likely going to be a two-horse race between the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule and major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Segun Adewale aka Aeroland.

Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had listed 10 political parties and candidates to participate in the exercise but either PDP or APC stand the best chance to win the contest.
While Adebule is entering the race for the first time although she served as deputy governor to former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (2015-2019), Adewale had contested the election twice but lost to the incumbent Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola.

The Lagos West Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Mushin, Ojo, and Oshodi-Isolo. It is also the biggest senatorial district in the country.

The incumbent Senator Adeola of APC was re-elected with 53.3 per cent of the vote in 2019 defeating Adewale of PDP. In April 2022, Senator Adeola successfully moved his interest to Ogun West where he is currently the APC Ogun West senatorial candidate for the 2023 election in anticipation of his gubernatorial ambition in Ogun, come 2027.

Sequel to Adeola’s decision to contest the Ogun West senatorial election, Lagos APC held its primary election in which Adebule defeated former Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Musiliu Obanikoro and former Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa.

Although Adebule’s candidacy was initially marred in controversy, it was alleged that she didn’t obtain the Nomination for Expression Form for the election before it closed, the party however addressed the issue as Obanikoro, who appeared to be the most vocal complainant was appeased with the House of Representatives ticket conceded to his son, Babajide.

Political permutations seem to favour the former Deputy governor as she is tipped to defeat Adewale considering the well-oiled and stable platform of the ruling APC compared to the crisis-ridden Lagos PDP come February 25, 2023 when the senatorial election will hold.
 
But other observers said this permutation may not be as easy as it’s been projected due to some challenges the ruling APC is also having.
A member of the PDP told The Guardian that Adewale is also very influential in Lagos West considering the fact that he was narrowly defeated in previous elections by  Senator Adeola. Adewale may therefore
not be a pushover for Adebule, who is a new comer to the game.
 
He also said the pattern of vote for the presidential election, which will hold the same day, may also determine who wins between Adebule and Adewale. But Adebule may have sympathy vote because of the gender equality sentiment. Other major contenders in the three senatorial elections are male. Observers also said the indigene factor will place the former deputy governor at an edge over Adewale, who has once contested the governorship ticket in Ekiti State. At present, most Lagos indigenes are upset about the rate at which non-indigenes have been representing the state with nothing concrete to show for it. Adebule, who is an Awori from Badagry division of Lagos West will benefit more from such sentiment than Adewale, who is considered as a non-indigene of Lagos.

Adebule will also ride on the existing structure of Senator Adeola, who is very popular and strong in Lagos West. Besides, another factor that will oil the victory for Adebule is the unbroken record of APC ruling the state since 1999 when the civil rule returned.

Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) which later transformed to Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and eventually APC won Lagos West senatorial election in 1999. He was succeeded by Senator Ganiyu Solomon and later Adeola. Adebule may take advantage of the winning strides of her party to defeat her opponents.
   
Addressing the media last Wednesday during the flag-off of her campaign for the election, Adebule said, the 2023 general elections would be a defining event in the history of Nigeria due to the significance of the consequences of the decisions the electorate would take in electing political leaders and representatives at various levels.
 
She said, “Successive progressive administrations in Lagos have delivered steady development since our country’s return to democracy in 1999 and this feat has made Lagos State stand tall amongst other states in Nigeria. This is a product of continuity and stability in governance as well as consistent leadership provided by our great party, the All Progressives Congress. The people of Lagos are smart, intelligent, highly educated, and trusted to always make the right decision to guarantee the tradition of progressive political inclination by voting the APC at all levels. This is a sure path to trail-blazing and sustainable development of our dear state.”

On what she planned to do, she said, “As a professional in politics with rich experience in public service and leadership, I have imbibed and lived by my personal time-tested values which include: to serve my people and community with integrity, to always serve with compassion for the vulnerable as well as the general public, and to place honesty of purpose at the foundation of my service to the people.”

As a professional educator, Adebule parades an intimidating profile and she is full of confidence promoting this. She said, “I am with enviable credentials which stands me in a better position to represent you creditably. I have risen through the ranks from the Ivory towers through public service to the state executive council. This is a feat that I achieved through the grace of God, consistent hard work and focus on service to people.”
 
Explaining what she has to offer if elected as Senator next year, the former deputy governor reeled out her achievements while she served under Ambode in charge of education.

She added that apart from her achievements in the education sector “I was voted the best performing Deputy Governor in Nigeria in 2018 by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
“As a private citizen, I am involved in many community service endeavours including running yearly scholarship awards to some deserving indigent students of the Lagos State University (LASU) and empowerment programme for vulnerable people as well as many other interventions for the needy. I have received several awards from youth organisations, societies, professional bodies, religious organisations, and academic associations in recognition of my contribution to society. I am a proud member of the distinguished Governance Advisory Council of Lagos State (G.A.C.) since 2019.”
Adebule’s mission and vision for Lagos West

In her vision statement for Lagos West, Adebule said her driving vision is to place Lagos West Senatorial District and indeed Lagos State on a higher pedestal of excellence in governance to drive prosperity, peace and progress through legislative interventions.
According to her, “My mission in respect of this social contract with the good people of Lagos West Senatorial District is to serve as the impactful representative of my people in a manner that inspires and propel them towards prosperity, healthy and good living, and strengthens their belief in the Nigerian project.”
 
She continued: “When the good people of Lagos West Senatorial District in consonance with the grace of God elect me as their Senator in February 2023, I intend to pursue the following ideals, policies and programmes for which I consider to be my pact with the people of Lagos west, the benefit of my people and Nigerians in general: partner  with colleague Senators, to pursue the actualisation of special status for Lagos State to enhance the socio-economic viability of the people of Lagos, deliver essential and people oriented legislative interventions that are required to promote sustainable good governance for the peoples and nationalities of Nigeria, promote legislative interventions to strengthen national educational policies, programmes and attainment throughout the value chain with special emphasis on functionality of the Nigerian education system as the pivot for sustainable development, prioritize the implementation of legislative programmes that would engender economic empowerment and upliftment of the people of Lagos West through targeted professional and vocational training as well as new skills acquisition, including infotech training to harness the enormous talents of our people to discourage outward pull of our professionals to other countries, support Lagos West small-scale entrepreneurs with knowledge upgrades to enhance their capacity to sustain and grow their businesses and vocations, work and collaborate with government agencies at both federal and state levels to sustainably develop and expand the rich cultural and vast historical tourism potentials of Lagos West and give it the pride of place as the prime hub of tourism in Nigeria, initiate programmes that support the vulnerable, economically disadvantaged, aged, physically challenged, widows and the unemployed to improve their well-being and health choices.”

She also vowed to promote and support legislative interventions targeted at the youth, women and children to ameliorate their vulnerability as regards education, employment, entrepreneurship and socio-political engagement in the Nigerian project, pursue and support government policies regarding infrastructural development of Lagos West Senatorial District by engaging government ministries, departments and Agencies (MDAs) at both federal and state levels and to advocate and support all government policies and programmes aimed at creating the enabling environment for our people of all generations to thrive and be self-sufficient with special focus on the Lagos West Senatorial District, set up mechanism to engage the good people of Lagos West Senatorial District periodically and consistently to hear directly from them as feedback for actionable government interventions, policies and programmes.”
 
Giving her profile as a bona-fide indigene of Lagos, Adebule said, “I am a native of the ancient Ojo Alaworo kingdom of Lagos State and by implication an Awori. My educational pursuit started from St. Michael Primary School, Ojo through Awori College, Ojo to the Lagos State University, Ojo, where I bagged a Ph.D. in Curriculum Studies among other certifications and qualifications I have achieved through the years. I have under my wings about two decades of teaching experience at both the Lagos State College of Primary Education, Noforija-Epe (now Michael Otedola University of Education) and the Lagos State University, Ojo (LASU).”

Her public service experience started with her appointment to the board of the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission in year 2000 and the Lagos State Scholarship Board in 2004 by the then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Director General, Adebule Campaign Council, Rasaq Ajala vouched for the former deputy governor’s capacity, competence and sincerity to represent the district appropriately in the upper legislative chamber if elected.