Mariam Akinloye & Taiwo Oluwatoyin (SIWES Student)
Residents of Ikorodu Federal Constituency have been charged to take advantage of the ongoing Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) enrollment, by registering to be able to participate in the forthcoming General Elections in 2027.
While the divisional leaders acknowledged the improvement in Ikorodu’s voting strength going by the 2023 General Elections and the last Local Government Elections in Lagos, the party leaders said that there is room for improvement, adding that the upward trends in the number of votes attract development projects and government presence.
They made the appeal at the September 2025 Stakeholders’ Meeting hosted by Rep. Benson at his constituency office in Ikorodu. The meeting is a quarterly gathering of the stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Community Development Associations/Community Development Committees (CDAs/CDCs),market leaders among others in Ikorodu Division, where the federal lawmaker updates on his representation and also gets feedback.
At the meeting were Council Chairmen, party leaders and other stakeholders across the Local Government and five LCDAs in Ikorodu Federal Constituency which is also a division in Lagos State.
Rep. Benson speaking, commended the people of Ikorodu for their overwhelming support in previous elections, noting that over 120,000 votes were cast in the last LG elections for the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he said was a significant increase from the previous 64,000 votes recorded at the 2023 General Elections.
He urged residents to maintain this momentum and register for PVCs, which will enable them to exercise their right to vote, increase Ikorodu’s voting strength and give them a say in the running of their local government.
“My charge to the residents is that in Ikorodu Oga, where I’m sure we’re leading in the renewal of votes throughout Lagos, I encourage my constituents to continue to do more. The local government chairmen are doing well. They are providing infrastructure to ensure that Ikorodu registers as many votes as possible.
“The residents are happy because they’re seeing the dividends of democracy. The House of Assembly representatives are performing, the Senator is performing, the new Council Chairmen are living up to expectations, because we are all hungry for development. They’re hungry to make the people happy. All these are to gear up the people and make them happy to come out to register and participate in the next voting period.
He urged young residents that are just turning 18 years and others, especially those that are just moving into Ikorodu to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to register and move their PVCs to Ikorodu.
“Now, people who are 18 in Ikorodu, you know Ikorodu, they say that we are, “Ashale jeje bi eniti o ri obirin ri” (Ikorodu men act like they have no wife whenever they want a new one, whereas, they are numerous at home with concubines outside). Thus, we produce a lot of children. So, a lot of young kids are 18 now, the ongoing process has given them the opportunity to register.
“Ikorodu is the fastest-growing community in Lagos State. So, more people are coming. You know, roads are being put in place and it’s attracting a lot of people. Those people need to transfer their PVCs. We are receiving a massive turnout and that means what is ongoing in Ikorodu is attributable to the development that is seen within, and we’ve also seen the crop of the young chairmen who have an appetite for development.”
The hugely popular legislator furthered, “Invariably, throughout the state, Ikorodu is being talked about, and more people are moving. So, it means that PVC registration will be continuing and also receive a bigger turnout than expected.”
Divisional Chairman, APC in Ikorodu Division, Otunba Tijani Olasunkanmi, also acknowledged the votes of the populace and charged them to do more.
“I am grateful to the members for their support because the last election was different. If you remember vividly, the 2023 election was 64,000 but this one is over 100,000, but that should not end there. God will continue to help us, let’s continue to try and do that again next time we have an election.
“The more so, we’re preparing for another Presidential election, as we also doing for Governorship, Reps, and the Senate elections. We must not score less than what we have already, because they already said we’re lying but we need to show them we’re not lying.
“They’re telling us to start the registration now because some people are just following us and they don’t have PVC. If your mum doesn’t have one, she should register. If your sister doesn’t have one she should go and register and it also concerns those that are old,” Otunba Tijani urged.
Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, thanked residents in his council and the entire Ikorodu Division for turning out in large number for the PVCs registration to the extent that Ikorodu is now being registered with other councils.
“In the whole of Lagos State, we have seen that the struggles of our party executives and leaders in Ikorodu is yielding results. You have done the registration to the point that they have to register us with other local governments.
“So, we are really grateful and we are begging that you should continue to register so that we would in large numbers cast our votes in 2027, and also maintain our highest number of votes.
“If you look at Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, the road to Olu-Odo is ongoing; Selewu is ongoing and we have done Ogunlewe, Igbe and other roads. Oba Adeboruwa and others are also going on. This is why we have to cast more votes,” he said.
Executive Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Benson Sunday Ayodele, also spoke in the same vein appealing to those that are yet to register to do so and others that are just moving into Ikorodu or have one or the other issue with their PVCs should also take advantage of the process to rectify such problems.
He called for cooperation from the people with the new Chairmen to make the Ikorodu Division grow.
On behalf of other Chairmen, Hon. Benson Ayodele also thanked Rep. Benson for his quality representation that has brought developments to Ikorodu.
Alhaji Odumbo, Education Secretary, Local Government Education Authority LGEA, Ikorodu, in his speech, highlighted the significance of PVC registration, stating that strong measures are being put in place to ensure residents and in particular staff of the LGEA and teachers register for PVCs.
He emphasized that PVCs are crucial for electing leaders who will govern with truth and justice.
