Assembly aspirant consults party leaders

Leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State have expressed satisfaction with the aspiration of Mayowa Alakija for the party’s ticket in the 2027 Lagos State House of Assembly election for Oshodi/Isolo Constituency I.

This support was demonstrated at a consultative meeting convened by Alakija at the new APC secretariat in Oshodi, as part of his ongoing stakeholders’ engagement.

The gathering included key figures from the party’s Mandate and Justice blocs, ward leaders, council officials, artisans, and other grassroots stakeholders, including representatives of non-indigenes.

The objective was to ensure party unity ahead of the nomination process by aligning political direction and selecting credible representation to address the constituency’s developmental needs.

Otunba Kehinde Almaroof, chairman of the local government, led the party’s leadership, urging support for Alakija’s candidacy for Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1.

The chairman, popularly known as Kendoo, said he supported Alakija for the position because the current lawmaker, whom he said was imposed on the constituency, had not performed satisfactorily.

Kendoo says he can only put forward someone he trusts, and he vouched for Alakija’s competence and capacity to deliver people-oriented representation.

“As constituents, whether we are the chairman, councillors, members of the executive council or ordinary residents, we should use the performance of our current representative as a yardstick to decide whether to re-nominate him or not.

“At Isolo, I can point to several road projects Oladipo Ajomale has done for that constituency. But that is not the case for our constituency. Our current representative has been in the House of Assembly for over three years, but we cannot point to any achievement for the constituency. We cannot even identify a physical project credited to him.”

The consultative meeting, following earlier youth engagement the previous week, further strengthened Alakija’s grassroots appeal ahead of the selection process.

Alakija said as Education Secretary, he built and rehabilitated classrooms, improved school infrastructure, and provided clean water to public schools in the area.

He said he also rehabilitated a mosque, completed a multipurpose hall, and helped over 100 local education graduates secure employment.

His tenure impacted 57 schools and 10 centres, helping nearly 1,000 staff and over 15,000 pupils achieve improved academic performance and recognition from the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB).

Alakija presented a legislative agenda focused on infrastructure renewal, youth empowerment, improved access to education, and economic growth through local business support. He aims to use legislative influence and partnerships to attract development projects.

“This is not just about representation; it is about delivering practical solutions and inclusive growth that our people can feel,” he said.

After the meeting, Alakija told reporters he was pleased with the turnout, which he saw as reflecting both the local government chairman’s performance and his own contributions to grassroots development.

“What you are seeing here was organised within 72 hours. The response from party leaders, youths and members shows the level of trust and confidence they have in what we have been doing,” he said.

If elected, he emphasised the importance of balanced development across all sectors to complement the work of other elected and appointed officials, rather than focusing on isolated projects.

“The community is a system. You cannot focus on one sector at the expense of others. My role at the House of Assembly will be to advocate, to lobby and to ensure that Oshodi/Isolo gets its fair share of resources across all sectors,” he added.

On national politics, he expressed confidence that the APC would retain support among young voters, citing policies targeting youth development, including student loan initiatives and expanded access to technical and vocational education.

The meeting positioned Alakija as a leading contender, with key stakeholders backing his candidacy ahead of the party’s nomination process.