By Peter Dansu As the race for Badagry Constituency II ahead of the 2027 Lagos State House of Assembly elections gathers momentum, emerging ...
By Peter Dansu
As the race for Badagry Constituency II ahead of the 2027 Lagos State House of Assembly elections gathers momentum, emerging political dynamics suggest that internal divisions within Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) could pave the way for the incumbent, Setonji David, to secure an easy unprecedented fourth term.
An engineer by profession, Setonji, who currently serves as Deputy Chief Whip of the Lagos Assembly, is rounding off his third term and seeking re-election, a move that would place him alongside Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, the current Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, in the rare league of lawmakers to have served four terms in Badagry’s legislative history.
While his performance in office has not been entirely condemned, agitation for fairness and equity has emerged as the central issue shaping the contest. Stakeholders in Olorunda LCDA and others opposed to his fourth-term re-election argue that by 2027, the constituency would have experienced 20 years of representation outside the four wards under Badagry Constituency II, namely Ibereko (Ward B), Mowo-Aradagun (Ward C), Araromi (ward E) and Ilogbo-Eremi (Ward D). The last lawmaker from Olorunda extraction, Hon. Oluranti Ajose of the Ibereko-Mowo Ward, left the Assembly in 2007.
Despite the growing agitation, Setonji’s track record provides him with some political leverage. During his 12 years in the Assembly, he has facilitated major road reconstruction projects across Ajara, including Ajara Vetho and Agamathen, as well as periodic grading of rural roads across the constituency. He is also credited with extensive canal digging projects in parts of the constituency aimed at curbing flooding, alongside a large-scale empowerment programme that benefited more than 300 constituents last year. In addition, he is said to have facilitated the construction of several school buildings in Ajara.
Despite his legislative performance, many constituents still rate him below average in terms of project facilitation, an increasingly prominent, though arguably unfair, yardstick in Nigeria’s political space for assessing lawmakers, especially considering his nearly 12-year tenure in the Lagos State House of Assembly. This perception is further heightened when compared with first-term lawmaker Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu of Badagry Constituency I, who has earned widespread praise for what many describe as excellent performance in both legislative duties and constituency project delivery. Notably, Bonu is widely commended for his role in restoring electricity to Badagry-West LCDA after years of blackout.
Meanwhile, Setonji’s re-election bid is facing mounting resistance, particularly from Olorunda, where multiple aspirants have declared interest in the seat. Leading the charge are the Olatunde brothers, Samson Folorunsho Olatunde and Oladunjoye Yusuf Olatunde, both determined to unseat the incumbent yet, barring any last-minute change, unwilling to step down for one another despite being brothers. Also in the race is Abudu Amida, former Chairman of Olorunda LCDA and a seasoned contender who has pursued the seat for more than a decade.
There are also strong indications that Adeniyi Balogun may join the contest, further intensifying the battle and potentially deepening divisions within Olorunda’s political bloc.
Beyond Olorunda, another aspirant, Barrister Peter Hunja Owolabani, has entered the race from Ajara Topa. However, political observers believe he may eventually step down in favour of Setobji, given their shared political base and calculations that a fourth term could position the incumbent for a possible speakership role in the Assembly, an argument dismissed by critics as a political smokescreen.
Analysts say the major challenge confronting Olorunda aspirants is a lack of unity. With multiple strong contenders unwilling to step down for one another, votes from the area risk being fragmented across wards. The Olatunde brothers and a possible Balogun candidacy are expected to split votes in Ilogbo, while Amida is projected to secure a share of support in Ibereko and Mowo, albeit not decisively.
Meanwhile, David is expected to consolidate his traditional stronghold in Ajara, while also drawing consistent support from Ikoga and Yafin wards, an advantage that could prove decisive if opposition votes remain divided.
Political watchers warn that unless Olorunda stakeholders rally behind a consensus candidate, their long-standing demand to end what they describe as two decades of marginalisation may remain unmet.
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary approaches, the unfolding scenario paints a familiar picture in Nigerian politics, where internal disunity within a strong opposition base may ultimately secure victory for an embattled incumbent.
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