By Bilesanmi Abayomi
No fewer than five councilors have thrown their hats into the ring to succeed the outgoing Councilor representing Ward B in the Oworonshoki area of Kosofe Local Government, Councilor Kehinde Saliu, in the upcoming 2025 Local Government councillorship election.
Saliu, set to complete his second term in 2025, has sparked a debate on the tenure of councilors, with calls for a change in leadership after two terms. Despite the absence of term limits for councilors, Saliu’s performance remains under scrutiny, with concerns raised about the lack of attempts to break the tradition of limited representation.
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In response to this sentiment, several contenders have initiated discreet consultations, positioning themselves as alternatives to the status quo. Leading the pack are Kosofe cabinet members, Abayomi Elugbindin, and Lanre Aborisade, the APC Youth leader in Oworonshoki. Aborisade has publicly declared his intention to run, citing concerns about the alleged hijacking of party affairs in his ward.
Meanwhile, in other wards of Kosofe Local Government, similar discussions are underway. Ward A in Oworonshoki, Ward D, and Anthony Village have all seen councilors complete two terms, while others, like Ward C in Ifako-Gbagada, Ward E in Mende Maryland, Ward F in Ojota, and Ward G in Ogudu, are serving their first terms and may seek re-election.
The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that tradition dictates that first-term representatives automatically earn a second term ticket based on their performance. However, aspiring first-term councilors within the APC are urged to engage in extensive consultations before entering the race to avoid unnecessary stress, energy wastage, and resource depletion.