Kunle Adelabu, Mariam Akinloye & Ayoola Oladipupo
-National election committee, state chairman commends process
The three – term representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, has secured the ticket of All Progressives Congress (APC) for an unprecedented fourth -term to be the flagbearer of the party in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections.
Rep. Benson who held the record of winning the ticket for three times with former representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Hon. Abike Dabiri -Erewa, recorded his fourth win on Saturday, after defeating his sole challenger, Hon. Abdulkareem Shittu, in the APC House of Representatives’ primary election in Ikorodu.
According to the official report by the party signed by Hon. Moruf Akinderu Fatai, the LGA Returning Officer, incumbent House of Representatives member polled 68, 684 votes in a Direct primary election across the 19 political wards in Ikorodu Federal Constituency, while Hon. Shittu recorded 1119 votes. A total of 68, 767 votes were recorded across the 19 wards.
Results across the 19 wards in Ikorodu were collated at the APC Secretariat in Ikorodu.
Rep. Benson voted at his Ward, Ward C4, Kith & Kin Field, Ibeshe Road, Ibeshe in IgbogbO/Baiyeku LCDA where he polled 2,075 votes while Shittu scored 49 votes. At Ward A1, Etunrenren Primary School, Ikorodu, Hon. Shittu’s Ward, the contestant who recorded 122 votes lost to Rep. Benson with 4, 620 votes.
The election was witnessed by the State Chairman of the APC, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi who came to assess the process with the Chairman, APC Electoral Committee, Hon. Saliu Shehu, and members of the committee.
Rep. Benson, speaking with THE IMPACT before the release of the results of the election, commended the electoral process and described the participation of over 60, 000 party members in the Direct primary as a right step in the right direction.
“I have always been an advocate of Option A4 and we see it exhibited today. I think I saw the score with over 60,000 people coming out. So, what this primary election does is to energize the base. I’m sure that 60,000 people coming out to exercise their rights shows how positive we’ve come in our internal processes.
“Therefore, it means that those 60,000 party members will still come out on (general) election day; they will come out en masse to vote. It’s a step in the right direction and I’m extremely happy.”
The three -term lawmaker assessing the voting process said that it went well without any incident in Ikorodu.
“It went very smoothly. There were no incidents, and people queued behind their favorite candidate. So, it’s pretty good.”
Speaking on his expectation after his victory at the primary election, Rep. Benson said that it would propel better outcomes in the next General Elections.
“My expectation is that, since the base has been energized, we will see more outcomes during the forthcoming elections in January,”
APC Election Committee Chairman, Hon Saliu Shehu speaking at the party secretariat in Ikorodu where the results across the 19 wards were collated lauded the peaceful conduct of the election.
“We are here to see whether the people of the Federal Constituency are orderly, or if they are fighting amongst themselves. We are here to see if the process is peaceful. We believe that at the end of the day, the conduct will reflect the wishes of the people.
“We know this is an internal contest amongst yourselves and that at the end of the day, whoever emerges victorious will be certified according to law.
“We appreciate the way you have conducted yourselves peacefully and with decorum. We have seen what we have seen and Ikorodu is one of the most peaceful areas that we have been to. Thank you very much,” Hon. Shehu said.
Also speaking after his assessment, Pastor Ojelabi, APC State Chairman, expressed satisfaction at the large turnout and the peaceful conduct of the primary election.
“I want to thank you for coming out in large numbers to participate in the emergence of our candidate for the Ikorodu Federal House of Representatives. Basically, I am here just to come and monitor the process of electing your candidates.
“The electoral committee saddled with responsibility of conducting the 2027 National Assembly Primary election are here with us. And they are the sole authority granted by the party to observe, to certify, and append their signature to the authenticity of what you have done.
“Whomever that they append their signature on his name will be the candidate of our party. I want to thank you for coming all the way from Abuja to witness what the good people of Ikorodu are doing.
“I want to say that as your chairman, I am delighted at the results that we have gotten from Ikorodu Federal Constituency; how you have conducted yourselves in a peaceful manner to participate in who will represent you,” State APC Chairman said.
The Divisional Chairman, APC, Ikorodu Division, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani , described the election as a way for party members to appreciate Rep. Benson for all that he has been doing for Ikorodu.
“Let me first thank our members for standing by our member of the House of Representatives. It’s a way of appreciating him. It’s a way of saying, thank you. It’s a way of telling us that they appreciate all that has been done, and we want them to keep it up. They should keep it up.
“With today’s (Saturday) votes, Ikorodu may likely deliver the highest vote for the president once again in the forthcoming General Elections.”
In his own assessment, he also described the process as peaceful.
“It was very smooth, and peaceful. It has been a peaceful one. No fighting, no abuse of each other and nothing at all except peace. We believe that this is internal party democracy. The party has results.”
Speaking on the outcome of the election, the party chairman charged the winner, whom he referred to as the consensus candidate of the party before the primary election to extend hands of love to the other contestant.
“We have two contestants and Jimi Benson scored above 60,000 votes. I think the other person is below 5,000. I may not be too sure of the actual figure.
“I will advise that Jimi Benson should extend the hand of love to the other person, and that the other person should also accept defeat with love for the party.
“For the party members, we have just started. We appreciate them for coming out to vote for our consensus candidate, because, before the primary elections, Jimi Benson was a consensus candidate. The APC leaders at their last meeting gave him a clean slate of health. They said he has performed so wonderfully well, and that he should continue.
“That is what you have seen in the vote: acceptability, love, and a way of saying, thank you, we expect more from you. And I know, to whom much is given, much is expected. I know Jimi will multiply in folds his good deeds to Ikorodu people,” Otunba Tijani said.
