By Bilesaanmi Abayomi
As the 2023 election draws closer, the level of preparedness of the third forces such as the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Labour Party, and Social Democratic Party has been a frequently asked question across Kosofe.
The major third force comprises of youth groups, aggrieved and sympathizers of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress.
The NNPP candidate, Abdulwaheed Omotayo Odunuga, whom many thought was an APC member, was never a member. However, his unflinching support for former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dayo Bush, and the coordination of the Lagos State Buhari Youth Organization (BYO), contributed to the notion that he was a card-carrying member of the party.
Both Abdulwaheed and the NNPP’s Kosofe constituency 2 candidate, Jide Bakare, have appeared on talk shows, plastered Kosofe with posters, banners, and a series of jingles, unveiled manifestos, and begun door-to-door campaigns.
The Social Democratic Party candidate, Lanre Carew, is a household name and popular. His counterpart in Kosofe constituency 2, Moroof Adeleye, was a former councilor representing Ward B, area of Ikosi Isheri LCDA, and a loyalist to the outgoing member of the House of Representatives representing Kosofe Federal Constituency of Lagos, Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye. Since INEC suspended campaigns, the SDP has been relatively quiet.
Also, the Labour Party in Kosofe constituency 1 fielded a popular candidate, Akinwande Osikominu, and the relatively unknown Hammed Adeyemi in constituency 2, but there are no active campaigns and programmes accredited to the party.
Some popular aspirants who contested on the platform of the Labour Party but did not make the final list are still dissatisfied with the list and hope that the law competent jurisdiction will reverse the list.
Well prepared candidates among the third force political parties will slug it out with the major parties such as All Progressives Congress and People’s Democratic Party candidates in Kosofe in next year’s election.