Like every other states in Nigeria, race to fourteen of the House of Representatives seats in Oyo State has commenced ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Top politicians who have emerged as candidates of their various political parties in the state have since embarked on another round of consultations, mapping out strategies to make things work in their favour as far as the elections are concerned.
Though there are several political parties slated to participate in the 25th February, 2023 election, but the believe is that the battle is going to be between two or three most prominent parties. All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and probably Accord or the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Already, the political titans in the race have been reeling out their scorecards/achievements, while the fresh ones have been intimate the general public about their profiles.
However, one thing that is obvious is that, the dynamism of the election may change a little bit. This is evident in the way things played out at the primaries. Where some serving honourables couldn’t win their return ticket and new breed politicians defeated established ones.
Also, there may be surprises in the results of the main polls compared to the 2019 elections. In 2019, APC won 9 out of the 14 seats, PDP got 4, while ADP secured only 1 seat. Below is the list of top politicians to contest the 14 House of Reps seats in Oyo State come 2023. The 14 constituencies are spread across the 3 Senatorial Districts in the state.
IBADAN NORTH
In Ibadan North, the battle is going to be between the incumbent APC honourable, Olaide Akinremi (Jagaban) and Lanre Sarumi of PDP and son of a former House of Representatives member, Hon Tayo Sarumi. To some, Lanre Sarumi can’t be right off as far as the election is concerned. He is young and vibrant and one of the fresh breeds in Oyo politics.
OLUYOLE
This, no doubt, will be an interesting contest between Governor Makinde’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, Majeed Mogbojunbola of PDP and the only female incumbent honourable in the state, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe of APC. While Mogbojunbola is being described a grassroots mobiliser by many, Sadipe on her own is popular in the constituency and well loved by the women folks too.
AKINYELE/LAGELU
The former Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Lafisoye Akinmoyede of the All Progressives Congress, APC and a PDP leader from the zone, Abideen Adeaga will be slogging it out with one another come 2023.
IREPO/OORELOPE/OLORUNSOGO
Both Hussaini Yusuf Ijabah of PDP and Lateef Olaide Muhammedah of the All Progressives Congress, APC are set to prove their political worth in the zone.
SAKI EAST/SAKI WEST/ATISBO
It is between Tajudeen Kareem Were of APC and Lukman Adisa Salami of PDP in this zone.
IBADAN SOUTH EAST/NORTH EAST
This is one of the elections that is expected to be very hot in Oyo State come 2023. Hon Abass Adigun (Agboworin) of PDP; a former honourable of the zone, Hon Dapo Lam Adesina (APC) and former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Deji Aboderin of the Social Democratic Party, SDP are all involved.
ISEYIN/ITESIWAJI/KAJOLA/IWAJOWA
For this zone, Engineer Soliu Adebare Abu-Gbadamosi is APC candidate, while Oyejide Oyesina will represent PDP. Both candidates are popular and well loved in the constituency.
IBADAN NORTH WEST/IBADAN SOUTH WEST
This is another great opportunity for the former honourable in the zone, Saheed Fijabi to redeem his political image. Fijabi, the candidate of APC, was defeated in 2019 by the incumbent honourable, Stanley Olajide (Odidiomo), who has again clinched his PDP’s ticket to contest in 2023. Meanwhile, an Ibadan-based philanthropist, Dr Olayinka Ibikunle of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is also in the race. Olayinka hails from the great Balogun Ibikunle’s compound in Ibadan. This, some say, will work in his favour.
OGBOMOSO NORTH/OGBOMOSO SOUTH/ORIRE
The battle in this is between Olufemi Onireti of PDP and Olamiju Alao-Akala (APC). Though Olamiju seems to have an upper hand as far as the constituency is concerned. His personal experience as a former council Chairman and his late father’s political influence. The father, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, was a former governor and leader of APC in the state.
IDO/IBARAPA
Both Hon Yemi Taiwo of PDP and Engineer Remi Oseni of the All Progressives Congress, APC will battle for the seat.
EGBEDA/ONA-ORA
The incumbent honourable from APC, Akin Alabi will fight it out with Busari Olayemi of PDP.
IBARAPA NORTH/IBARAPA CENTRAL
The battle is between Adepoju Anthony of PDP and Hon. Muraina Ajibola of APC. Muraina is a serving lawmaker who recently joined the party from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP
OGO OLUWA/SURULERE
Ojo Sunday Makanjuola of PDP will slog it out with the serving honourable, Segun Dokun Odebunmi of APC.
AFIJIO/ATIBA/OYO EAST/OYO WEST
This is also going to be a big battle between Mudashiru Kamil Akinlabi of PDP and Hon. Akeem Adeyemi aka Skimeh, who is APC candidate. While Skimeh, son of the late Alaafin Adeyemi, is the serving honourable, Akinlabi is also a former lawmaker in the constituency. Their age-long political rivalry will come to life again in 2023. It is going to be mother of all political battle in the state.
-Dare Adeniran
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