Ahead of 2023 general elections, incumbent member of House of Representatives, Hon Leke Abejide has picked the ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Yagba Federal Constituency.
At the crowded Isanlu Town Hall on Monday, where 170 delegates of the ADC gathered to elect the party’s flag bearer for the 2023 election in Yagba Federal Constituency, the Chairman, House Committee on Customs and Excise, Abejide made a clean sweep of the primary election, polling all 168 valid delegates votes out of a total 170 votes.
Two votes were invalid.
The returning officer, Dr Peter Ede from the ADC national secretariat, Abuja who announced the results described the exercise as peaceful, transparent and historic.
With Abejide’s emergence as ADC candidate, the stage is now set for what many envisage will be a royal rumble for Yagba reps seat in 2023.
In the next six months, Abejide will go head-to-head with the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tolorunjuwon Joseph Faniyi and that of the APC, Engr Folorunsho Olafemi for the coveted seat.
Faniyi is a former Reps member and commissioner in the state. He is a polls-tested politician who will be banking on experience to navigate through familiar turf.
Olafemi is already enjoying support from people who see him as a ‘giant-slayer’. He defeated Governor Yahaya Bello’s commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, in the APC primaries. His seeming lack of political experience might be a plus given the excitement that trails emergence of a new face in Nigerian politics – the electorate’s anticipation to experience a breathe of fresh air. Also, he will hope to leverage on his father’s goodwill and experience. He father, Asiwaju Clarence Olafemi is a former Speaker of the State Assembly and at a time Acting Governor of Kogi state.
However, pundits believe Abejide is stands a better chance of winning the election given his populist projects and initiatives. His continued education intervention scheme that offers payment of WAEC fees for all students in the three local governments in the federal constituency is unrivaled.
Abejide has practically touched almost all households in Yagba land in the last three years and may not need to invent new strategies during the electioneering campaign for his re-election.
After he emergence as ADC candidate for 2023 elections, his polling agent, Mr Bode Olorunsola told newsmen that he was not surprised at the outcome of the ADC primary election in Yagba based on what Elder Abejide has done during his first term, which he described as unprecedented.
“I have no doubts in my mind that he will do better if given the opportunity to serve another term”, Mr Olorunsola enthused.
