Criticisms have continued to trail the absence of three prominent candidates vying for the Ikorodu constituency 1 and 2 seats on the platforms of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP namely, Hon Saka Solaja, Hon Abagun Lamina and his constituency 2 counterpart, Moshood Aro at the Ikorodu Division Legislative Debate held on Sunday, 27th January, 2019.
Most residents were taken aback by the attitude of these party candidates with many condemning and criticizing the trio for refusing to honour the unique opportunity for them to engage and sell their programmes and agenda to key stakeholders and the electorates, ahead of the forthcoming elections.
According to the organizers of the debate, while the absentee PDP candidates sent a letter informing the organizers of their inability to attend the debate, due to what they termed tight schedule and campaign itinerary, an excuse many have described as flimsy and untenable. We however gathered that Hon Saka Solaja, APC candidate for Ikorodu constituency 2 did not send any message to the organizers about his absence at the debate. Many have described his absence at the debate as an affront on the electorates.
Candidates that participated in the legislative debate include, Hon Samsideen Ayanlaja, AD Ikorodu Constituency 1, Prince Adegoke Ademola, AD Ikorodu Constituency 2 and Prince Adeyemi Odofin, ADC Ikorodu Constituency 1.
Others are, Hon Oyebanjo Adeola, ADC Constituency 2 who was the only female house of assembly candidate in the forthcoming election. Participants also include Hon Balogun Rotimi, ANN Ikorodu Constituency 1 and BarrPaul Okoro, ANN Ikorodu constituency 2.
Incumbent member of the Lagos state house of assembly, Ikorodu constituency 1 and candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Hon. SOB Agunbiade also graced the debate and made a good show of himself as the candidate to beat at the forthcoming contest for the Ikorodu constituency 1 seat at the Lagos state house of assembly.
