BY: AYO AGBEOLUWAYE
Stakeholders across Lagos Mainland from Ebute Metta West, Ebute Metta East, and Yaba—have unanimously endorsed Honourable Prince Abdul Akeem Animashaun as their consensus candidate for the House of Representatives, while strongly backing the zoning of the seat to Ebute Metta West in a move aimed at correcting decades of political marginalisation and fostering inclusive representation.
In a show of unity, political leaders, community representatives, and grassroots stakeholders from Lagos Mainland converged at a press conference to address what they described as a longstanding imbalance in political representation within the constituency.
Central to their resolution was a collective endorsement of Prince Abdul Akeem Animashaun as the sole candidate to represent the constituency at the federal level, alongside a firm call for the zoning of the House of Representatives seat to Ebute Metta West on the principles of justice, equity, and fairness.
Stakeholders noted that Ebute Metta West has, for nearly three decades since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, consistently raised concerns over political exclusion and marginalisation which According to them, this perceived imbalance has begun to strain unity within the constituency and could impact party cohesion ahead of future elections if left unresolved.
They emphasized that despite its significant contributions to electoral victories—particularly in support of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—Ebute Metta West has not received commensurate political recognition, with an estimated 99 percent of elective and appointive positions reportedly concentrated in Yaba and Ebute Metta East over the years.
Describing the current moment as critical, stakeholders from Ebute Metta East and Yaba declared their full support for zoning the seat to Ebute Metta West, describing the move as a necessary corrective step toward restoring balance and strengthening democratic inclusion.
For some stakeholders like Dosugan Caleb from Makoko who spoke to our correspondent, Dosugan Caleb, highlighted the struggles faced by residents over a disputed waterfront reclamation project dating back to 2020, explaining that despite the community’s rejection of the project and ongoing legal action against relevant authorities and a private developer, their concerns have remained largely unaddressed.
He expressed hope that Animashaun’s emergence would bring renewed attention to the plight of the Makoko people, urging the aspirant not to abandon the community if elected.
Similarly, Mrs. Bolingo from Yaba decried what she described as persistent marginalisation within Lagos Mainland, affirming total support for Animashaun’s candidacy. She stressed the importance of accountable representation, noting that past leaders had failed to meet community expectations.
Engineer Akamu Ganiu from Ebute Metta West, alongside other participants, commended Animashaun’s integrity and longstanding commitment to grassroots development, describing him as a credible leader capable of delivering effective representation.
Additional endorsements came from community members including Mrs. Helen Ilegbodu and Hon. Samson Akanni Sambakiu, who cited the aspirant’s professional background as a lawyer and his track record of service as key factors behind their support.
