By Peter Dansu For decades, the struggle for Badagry’s House of Representatives seat has revolved around what local politicians coined as t...
By Peter Dansu
For decades, the struggle for Badagry’s House of Representatives seat has revolved around what local politicians coined as the “one man, one term” tradition, an unwritten arrangement under which any elected lawmaker from the constituency is expected to spend only a single four year term at the National Assembly. While the practice has often been justified as promoting fairness, accountability and political rotation, emerging arguments suggest it has instead constrained Badagry’s ability to secure sustained federal development.
This position was strongly advanced by Dr Olatunji Oguntoye, a Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly, who weighed into the debate while responding to a thought provoking Facebook post by Badagry Talks Online TV on whether the one term culture is a blessing in disguise or a development hindrance.
Drawing from his direct working experience inside the National Assembly, Dr Oguntoye argued that accountability alone does not guarantee development, especially within the federal legislature where power, influence and access to resources are largely determined by ranking, seniority and continuity.
According to him, the House of Representatives is not structured like a local government council or an executive office where swift results can be achieved within a single term. Instead, members are ranked strictly by the number of terms they have served, and this ranking determines committee leadership positions, access to strategic committees, legislative influence and the capacity to attract federal projects and resources.
He explained that a first term lawmaker, regardless of competence, energy or goodwill, is structurally limited within the system, noting that constituencies that frequently replace their representatives remain perpetually junior, under resourced and politically disadvantaged.
Dr Oguntoye challenged the popular belief that frequent turnover brings fresh ideas and energy, stressing that while new perspectives are valuable, constant resets weaken institutional memory and bargaining power. He warned that such instability often disrupts continuity in projects and policies, particularly in sectors like infrastructure where results require sustained engagement beyond a single term.
To illustrate his point, he cited Lagos constituencies such as Surulere and Ikeja, which have returned the same representatives for multiple terms, allowing them to build influence and deliver visible development. He also referenced Ikorodu, his constituency of residence, which benefited significantly from continuity, especially during the later tenures of Hon Jimmy Benson. According to him, Benson’s ranking status and leadership roles, including his service as Chairman of the House Committee on Defence in successive assemblies, translated into strong institutional leverage and meaningful developmental outcomes.
Contrary to claims that short tenures encourage long term thinking, Dr Oguntoye insisted that long term development only becomes realistic when a lawmaker attains ranking status. He noted that the budgetary allocation, influence and bargaining power of a ranking member cannot be compared to those of a first timer, describing this reality as basic legislative knowledge that constituencies serious about development must understand.
Focusing specifically on Badagry, Dr Oguntoye rejected the argument that continuity is a curse, stating that instability arises not from retaining lawmakers but from constant legislative resets. He maintained that while the electorate has every right to replace a clearly underperforming representative, continuity becomes a strategic necessity where performance, visibility and institutional growth are evident.
In this context, he singled out the current representative, Hon Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, describing him as a young, active and highly visible member of the House who has already earned rare institutional recognition. Dr Adeoye noted that Hon Sesi’s emergence as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream in his first term is an uncommon achievement that reflects growing confidence in his legislative capacity.
According to him, such a position places Badagry at an advantage among first term lawmakers in Lagos State, and with re election and continuity, Hon Sesi stands a strong chance of becoming a ranking member capable of delivering far greater federal value to the constituency.
Dr Oguntoye further argued that the House of Representatives is not a rotational charity system but a power based institution where development flows through experience, seniority and sustained engagement. He added that leadership positions such as committee chairmanships and principal offices come with influence and budgetary leverage that directly impact constituency development.
He concluded by urging Badagry voters to look beyond single term sentiment and the long held “one man, one term” mindset, advising them to embrace strategic legislative continuity if the constituency is to achieve lasting federal development and stronger representation at the National Assembly.
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