Polithinks: The Senate and House of Reps; Meet the Contestants from Lagos.
The importance of parliamentarians in a democracy cannot be overemphasized given that they make the laws that dictate the rules of engagement in the democracy.
Folasayo Adigun
●14th February 2023
The most popular Nigerians at the moment, it can be argued, are the frontrunners for the country’s number one job – the presidency. Across the country, and on social media, the army of supporters for these candidates drown the activities of contestants for other positions that are national in scope, especially the Senate. The importance of parliamentarians in a democracy cannot be overemphasized given that they make the laws that dictate the rules of engagement in the democracy.
It will not be surprising if one walks up to the average Nigerian and asks for his or her representatives at the Federal House of Assembly and State House of Assembly, and they fail to get the right answer. That is how badly Nigerians have become disinterested in those running for these offices.
In this issue, we bring Nigerians, especially Lagosians, close to those contesting for the various senatorial seats of the state. There are eleven (11) political parties that have fielded candidates for the various senatorial seats., and they are presented in the Table below:
S/N
Candidate
Constituency
Party
Position
Age
Gender
Qualifications
1
JAMES CHARLES
KOLAWOLE
LAGOS WEST
A
Senate
58
M
GRADE 2 TEACHER’S
CERTIFICATE
2
IMUMOLEN EHIJELE
BENEDICT
LAGOS EAST
A
Senate
40
M
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE EDUCATION
3
IDOWU ABAYOMI
OMOTAYO
LAGOS CENTRAL
ADC
Senate
65
M
FIRST SCHOOL
LEAVING CERTIFICATE
SECONDARY SCHOOL
CERTIFICATE
BACHELOR DEGREE
4
OGIDI MUHAMMED
MUTAIRU
LAGOS WEST
ADC
Senate
60
M
FIRST SCHOOL
LEAVING CERTIFICATE
SECONDARY SCHOOL
CERTIFICATE
BACHELOR DEGREE
5
ASHIRU GEORGE
OLALEKAN HONEY
LAGOS EAST
ADC
Senate
56
M
FIRST SCHOOL
LEAVING CERTIFICATE
SECONDARY SCHOOL
CERTIFICATE
BACHELOR DEGREE
6
OLAOJO OLUFEYIKEMI
LAGOS WEST
ADP
Senate
44
F
FSLC SSCE mba
7
ABIRU MUKHAIL
ADETOKUNBO
LAGOS EAST
APC
Senate
58
M
PRIMARY SCHOOL
CERTIFICATE WASC
(O’LEVELS) & WASC
(A’LEVELS) B.Sc
ECONOMICS
8
ADEBULE IDIAT OLURANTI
LAGOS WEST
APC
Senate
51
F
FIRST SCHOOL
LEAVING CERTIFICATE
WASC/SSCE B.A (ED)
ISLAMIC STUDIES
9
SANNI WASIU ESHILOKUN
LAGOS CENTRAL
APC
Senate
61
M
FIRST SCHOOL
LEAVING
CERTIFICATE WASC
(FIRST DIVISION) B
AGRIC (Hons)
10
OLOWOLAYEMO TEMITOPE
TEMITAYO
LAGOS EAST
BP
Senate
52
F
Primary Leaving
Certificate WASC B.A
ED
11
BOLARIN TUNDE
LAGOS CENTRAL
BP
Senate
63
M
Primary School
Certificate WASC BSC
Sociology
12
OGUNLEGAN AKINTOMIDE
OLUMIDE
LAGOS WEST
BP
Senate
48
M
Primary Leaving
Certificate WASC BSE
13
DABIRI MUSTAPHA
OLADAPO
LAGOS WEST
NNPP
Senate
53
M
FSLC SSCE
14
OLOKE RAPHAEL
LAGOS CENTRAL
NNPP
Senate
42
M
SSCE
15
LAWAL NURUDEEN
FOLOHUNSHO
LAGOS EAST
NNPP
Senate
41
M
FSLC SSCE
16
OLOKOR ANTHONY
NELSON
LAGOS WEST
NRM
Senate
48
M
WAEC B.SC
17
OWOBIYI FRANCIS
ADEKUNLE
LAGOS CENTRAL
NRM
Senate
38
M
LLB
18
EDIALE O. CHRISTOPHER
LAGOS EAST
NRM
Senate
56
M
WAEC B.SC
19
ADEWALE SEGUN SUNDAY
LAGOS WEST
PDP
Senate
56
M
FSLC GCE B.Sc
20
GOMEZ ADEWALE FRANCIS
LAGOS CENTRAL
PDP
Senate
65
M
SSCE
21
AKOBADA NICHOLAS
ADEKUNLE
LAGOS EAST
PDP
Senate
54
M
WASSC B.Sc
22
OSUNDOLIRE TOLULOPE
LAGOS WEST
SDP
Senate
48
F
WAEC
23
OLUWARANMILOW
MAYOWA
LAGOS EAST
SDP
Senate
46
M
WAEC
24
ADELAJA ADEYINKA
LAGOS CENTRAL
SDP
Senate
48
M
WAEC
25
OLADEJI BLESSING TUNDE
LAGOS CENTRAL
YPP
Senate
39
M
WAEC BSC,MASTERS
26
OBADIARU CHARLES
IMUENOGHOMWEN
LAGOS EAST
YPP
Senate
66
M
FSLC WAEC
27
OJI PRINCESS BLESSING
LAGOS CENTRAL
ZLP
Senate
35
F
BSC
28
EMEREOLE ANTHONY
LAGOS WEST
ZLP
Senate
48
M
FEDEAL
POLYTECHNIC2
Note: A = Accord Party; ADC = African Democratic Congress; ADP = Action Democratic Party; APC = All Progressives Congress; BP = Boot Party; NNPP = New Nigeria Peoples Party; NRM = National Rescue Movement; PDP = Peoples Democratic Party; SDP = Social Democratic Party; YPP = Young Progressive Party; ZLP = Zenith Labor Party. This list is culled from the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It is noticed that out of the 28 senatorial candidates, only 5 are female, out of which 4 are in relatively less popular political parties. Furthermore, the average and median age of the contestants is about 51 years, with the youngest being 35 and the oldest, 66.
For those who clamor for more women representation in the Nigerian senate, the picture of the contestants from Lagos has become clearer – there are few of them. Hence, if the intention of the prospective voter is to make a statement about their preference for gender representation, they can cast a protest vote for the women who will be on the ballot.
For those that seek youth from Lagos in the Nigerian parliament, and given that Nigeria defines Youth as those between the ages of 18-35, only one of all the contestants qualify. Hence, the frustration may linger. It is hoped that the little representation of women and young people in the senatorial race in Lagos will not serve to demotivate prospective voters in Lagos from casting their ballots.