Ikorodu Federal Constituency: PDP under heat over non-indigene candidacy
The race for the ticket of the House of Representatives for the Ikorodu Federal Constituency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been engulfed in a heat over speculations of the party fielding non-indigenous person as the choice candidate for the seat.
It was however, gathered that the leadership of the party has been urged to encourage only indigenes to contest for the ticket.
It is been speculated that out of the four candidates currently jostling for the seat, only two are full indigenes of Ikorodu.
As gathered, they are Ms. Omotolani Popoola and Mr. Abdulkareem Olugbenga Shittu, whilst Mr. Awesu is reported to be an indigene of Ijebu Mushin in Ogun state, and Mr. Temitope Odeyale, an indigene of Osun state.
One of the aspirants under the PDP, Mr. AbdulKareem Shittu, however told journalists in Lagos on Monday, that Ikorodu has always been known to encourage ‘indigeneshi,’ arguing that it will therefore be out of place to allow non-indigenes to contest for the House of Reps ticket.
While the Party primary has been slated for 20th of May, it was gathered that the four aspirants have so far thrown their hats into the ring and have been working assiduously to obtain the ticket for the election next year.
In his position, Shittu argued, “There has always been a huge clamour for an indigene of Ikorodu to emerge as the candidate of the party. There are three indigenous councils in Lagos state, namely; Epe, Badagry, and Ikorodu. Of these three councils, Ikorodu is the only one that is not considering an indigene to represent them from our party, this is wrong.
“You will recall that the traditionalists from Ijede-Imota went on a parade recently, publicly warning anyone who deviates from the rotational arrangement in place in the federal constituency as it concerns the house of assembly elections.
“The people of Ikorodu, including the traditional institutions, are now mobilising people to make sure indigenes are fielded for various positions for both PDP and APC,” he opined.
The aspirant also went further to say, “Ikorodu local government has never since inception had an executive chairman who is a non-indigene.
“Also, since 1999, the Rep member for the constituency has always been an indigene. The present Rep member, Babajimi Benson is also an indigene of Ikorodu. So, why would the case of PDP be different, if we really want to grab the House of Reps ticket?”
It was also gathered that elders and traditional title holders had communicated representations to the PDP hierarchy in Ikorodu that only indigenes of the town should be fielded so the party could stand a chance in the general election against the APC.
Mr. Babatunde Kazeem, a resident of the town who spoke on subject, confirmed to our correspondent that the issue was currently generating hot debate within the rank and file of the PDP in Ikorodu.
He also echoed the sentiment that many party members are concerned about the party’s chances in the general election if a non-indigene is fielded as a candidate.
