Saturday 2nd December 2015 was a historical day for the people of Epe Constituency II as the Primary Election of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) into the State House of Assembly held in a free, fair and credible manner acceptable to all delegates and aspirants.
The journey to the 8th Assembly began when the Party announced 2nd December date for the primaries into the State House of Assemblies throughout the country.
Historically, no one has ever represented Epe Constituency II back to back. The decision to support Olulade to represent Epe II for another term was popular among party leaders and teeming membership. The reason is not farfetched; Hon. Segun Olulade has been adjudged one of the finest Honourable members in the 7th Assembly talking performance, delivery and credible representation of his people.
However, the endorsement did not go without a challenge, a thorough challenge from a contender after 7 other aspirants have stepped down to allow Olulade continue the good job he is renowned for. Mr Tunde Agbabiaka, aspirant from Ward Q1 in Ejinrin, same ward as Hon Olulade, did not leave any stone unturned to ensure his emergence for the position.
The Epe constituency II which comprises of 11 Wards has 2 major communities; Ikosi-Ejinrin and Eredo with 6 Wards for the former and 5 for the later.
As early as 8am, Oke Magba Development Hall Majoda at Eredo which was the venue of the primary was crowded by delegates, supporters and party members after which only 337 authentic delegates were cleared in an accreditation exercise that took place between 9am to 11:30am. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful irrespective of the presence of huge crowd at the venue.
The event witnessed the presence of party leaders and stalwarts among whom were Alhaji Sakiru Akanni Seriki a.k.a. Bamu, a strong leader of the Epe division; Alhaji Wasiu Tolani Odeyemi a.k.a. Wastab, a strong party leader in Eredo and former Honourable Member in the Lagos House of Assembly; Honourable Tunde Salau, former Honourable Member representing Epe Federal Constituency; Honourable Lanre Mukaila Odubote, present Honourable Member representing Epe Federal Constituency; Honourable Adelaja Omolaja, former Chairman of Eredo LCDA; Honourable Adetola Oluwasegun Ganiyu, former Chairman Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA; Alhaja Ramota Bankola, the State Welfare Officer of APC; Elder Lateef Sangosanya, Party Chairman Ikosi-Ejinrin and Alhaji Muideen Hazzan, Party Chairman Eredo among others.
The proper voting exercise commenced at 12 noon and lasted for an hour. 337 votes dangled before the 2 aspirants as delegates stepped out in orderly manner to cast their votes under the supervision and monitoring of State Electoral Officers deployed from Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
In an election that has been adjudged free, fair and credible by aspirants and delegates, the chief presiding officer took to stage at exactly 1:10pm to pronounce the winner in a simple majority of the total vote cast. Unambiguously, out of the 337 total votes, Hon Segun Olulade polled a whopping 266 while his opponent Tunde Agbabiaka polled just 66 votes and 5 votes were voided due to irregularity in the voting patterns of 5 delegates.
The ovation was loud; the margin was clear with exactly 200 votes ahead his opponent; the victory was overwhelming, the atmosphere was agog with celebration and applause. The APC in Epe II have finally elected the party flag-bearer who will slug it out with candidates from other parties in the general election in the race to the 8th Assembly. Segun Olulade broke the jinx to be the first Honourable member to return as party flag-bearer to the House on a 2 term consecutively in Epe II. His counterpart from Epe I, Honourable Abiodun Tobun also picked APC ticket to return unopposed in the historical primaries.
Much was said about the factors that aided Olulade’s victory. Hon Segun Olulade gave his people quality representation. He is very popular among his colleagues; hardworking, eloquent, efficient, dutiful and as well performed credibly well at serving his people via empowerment and deliverable programmes and projects.
History was made. To the glory of God and support of the people, Hon Olulade who was well loved by his people will join other lawmakers to represent his constituency from 2015 to 2019 at the Lagos House of Assembly after he must have defeated other candidates in the general elections come February 2015.
Humbled by his victory, Hon Olulade thanked all party leaders, delegates, party members, party stake-holders, numerous fans, supporters, constituents and Lagosians for their supports and best wishes towards his aspiration to serve his people in his capacity as lawmaker for another term. In his acceptance speech shortly after the exercise, he called on party members to see his victory at primary as the beginning of efforts that must be made to guarantee that the people continue to enjoy good governance by ensuring APC emerge victorious at the general election. While expressing his confidence in the victory of his party come 2015, he urged all and sundry to see the primary as family affair which should strengthen the baseline of the party towards general election. “No victor, no vanquish; we just have to choose our representative by the rule of the game, but this is not a fight, it is just a fair exercise that must hold”.
Hon Olulade however thanked God Almighty for his victory and has since returned to his seat to focus on the task for ensuring electoral successes in the long run.
Eleniyancares…God is involved!
