Kosofe businessman and head honcho of popular Lagos eatery, Farmcity, Mr Lanre Carew’s emergence as the candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) has been a nightmare to the incumbent member representing Kosofe Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Sanni Ganiyu Babatunde Okanlawon.
You would recall that the controversies that surrounded the APC election primaries led to the exit of the erstwhile APC bigwig from the party, in 2022. All reconciliatory moves were said to have fallen on deaf ears of both contestants, ditto their followers.
For Carew, he currently enjoys the goodwill of the electorate of Kosofe constituency 1, due to his selflessness for the people. Carew has been a major pillar of support to the APC in the past, now, the electorate of major election determinant communities in the constituency, sees it as payback time for Lanre Carew, against their party man and incumbent, Sanni Ganiyu Babatunde Okanlawon, popularly addressed as OKLA.
The leadership of the APC in Kosofe, especially constituency 1, is divided. This division has led to some major stakeholders and chieftains of the ruling party publicly joining their foot soldiers in the support of Carew’s candidacy, against their party man, OKLA. Most of the electorate of Kosofe communities such as Oworonshoki, Ogudu, Ojota, Anthony, Ifako-Gbagada, Soluyi, and even Mende, that used to be the stronghold of the incumbent, have pledged their support for Carew at the polls. If these allegiance is converted to votes for Carew, there’s a likelihood that OKLA won’t return to the hollowed chambers of the Lagos State House of Assembly, come May 2023.
OKLA on the other hand has the backing of some of his party leaders. In the last three and a half years he has also performed meritoriously, to the best of his capability. He oversees the education ministry of Lagos and has delivered in terms of Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s educational goals. OKLA also boasts to have facilitated teaching jobs for a few Kosofe Constituency 1 party faithfuls.
If elected, OKLA would be one of the very few returned members of the Lagos State House of Assembly in Lagos East Senatorial District. This is a major requirement in vying for the office of Deputy Speakership position.
Saturday 11th of March, the day for State Assemblies election is less than 2 months away. Carew and OKLA are currently exploring all avenues to emerge INEC’s best.
By Lekan Lawal