By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The death of Chief Welly Ishola Hassan, a veteran politician and former Lagos State Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has triggered tributes from politicians and associates across party lines, drawing renewed attention to his long political career and influence in Kosofe.
For years, Hassan was regarded by political observers as one of the prominent power brokers in the Kosofe Federal Constituency, particularly during his years as a leading PDP figure.
His political influence extended beyond party structures, with associates and observers linking him to the emergence and advancement of several political figures in Lagos, including former PDP governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje.
One of the episodes often cited in accounts of Hassan’s political strategy was the 2015 PDP primary for the Kosofe Constituency 1 seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Hassan backed Hon. Moyosore Ogunlewe, who is now the Executive Chairman of Kosofe Local Government, in the contest against the late Senator Adebayo Oshinowo.
At the time, political stakeholders had reportedly rallied behind former Ward C councillor, Hon. Lanre Ajose. Hassan, however, worked with three of the four ward chairmen in the area to build support for Ogunlewe among the 23 delegates who participated in the primary.
Accounts of the contest suggest that the strategy reduced Ajose’s advantage in his Ogudu-Ojota base and helped Ogunlewe secure the party’s ticket.
Hassan’s political calculations also intersected with his family’s political ambitions. His wife, Sherifat Olushola Hassan, contested the Kosofe Federal Constituency seat on the PDP platform, with Hassan playing a role in her successful bids for the party’s nomination in 2015 and 2019.
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Earlier, in 2007, Hassan was also credited by political associates with helping Hon. Kafilat Ogbara secure the PDP ticket for the Kosofe Federal Constituency during her first attempt to enter the House of Representatives.
These episodes contributed to Hassan’s reputation as a strategist who understood the importance of party structures, delegate politics and relationships across the constituency.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Hassan left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he continued to participate in political activities. However, political observers noted that his influence within the APC was less pronounced than the position he had occupied as a senior PDP figure.
Beyond individual contests, Hassan’s political career was shaped by his ability to build relationships, negotiate alliances and influence decisions within party structures. His role in several political contests made him a significant figure in Kosofe’s political history.
Following his death, Hassan was buried in his hometown of Ijebu Igbo in accordance with Islamic rites.
As tributes continue to come from across the political divide, his passing marks the end of a political era for a figure whose influence, particularly within the PDP, was closely intertwined with the evolution of Kosofe politics over several election cycles.