BY: AYO AGBEOLUWAYE
A House of Representatives aspirant for Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency, Prince Abdulhakeem Animashahun, has intensified calls for the zoning of the party’s ticket to Ebute Metta West ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that fairness, equity, and security considerations demand a shift in political representation within the constituency.
Animashahun made the appeal during an exclusive interview with our correspondent, where he outlined what he described as decades of imbalance in the distribution of the House of Representatives seat between the two major blocs in Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency.
According to him, Constituency II has dominated the seat for a disproportionate period, holding it for about 20 out of the last 27 years of democratic dispensation since 1999, while Constituency I has only had approximately eight years of representation since 1999.
The hopeful aspirant explained further that the initial tenure from 1999 to 2007 was held by a representative from Constituency II, who later moved to Constituency I, further complicating the zoning balance.
Animashahun noted that after Constituency II completed what should have been its second cycle of representation, the seat was expected to return to Constituency I.
However, the arrangement, according to him, did not materialize, as Constituency II continued to hold the position for an additional four years, extending its dominance to about 12 consecutive years since 2015.
Based on this historical pattern, the aspirant argued that the principle of zoning should now favor Constituency I, specifically EBUTE-METTA, which he said has not benefitted from either elective or appointed political offices despite its significant voting strength.
Animashahun stressed that adopting a zoning arrangement would not only address longstanding grievances but also serve as a strategic move to prevent potential violence and ensure broader political participation in Lagos Mainland.
He further appealed to party leaders and stakeholders, including the President Bola Tinubu to consider the agitation in the interest of unity and electoral success, noting that inclusive representation would strengthen grassroots mobilization and improve voter turnout.
While acknowledging internal party mechanisms such as direct primaries and consensus arrangements, he maintained that any decision must reflect justice and the collective interest of all segments within the constituency.
The aspirant also reiterated his commitment to delivering effective representation if given the opportunity, promising to leverage legislative action and constituency engagement to address youth unemployment, economic challenges, and social development issues in Lagos Mainland.
