The political landscape of Epe Division is entering a volatile and highly strategic phase as the race for the Lagos State House of Assembly intensifies. What looks calm on the surface is actually a layered contest shaped by party dominance, internal rivalries, generational agitation, and grassroots influence.
The All Progressives Congress remains overwhelmingly dominant in Epe, historically winning all constituencies with wide margins. Both Epe Constituency I & II and Ibeju-Lekki Constituency I & II are firmly APC-controlled. Opposition parties like the PDP or Labour Party have minimal structural strength here.
However, the real battle is no longer APC vs opposition — it is APC vs APC. Recent reports show intense intra-party clashes and alignments as aspirants position themselves ahead of 2027.
Epe Constituency I
The electoral chances of Hon. Abiodun Tobun in Epe Constituency I are best understood through a mix of strengths, vulnerabilities, and emerging political currents within Epe Division.
He has the incumbency power as he has held the seat since 2011 as a four-term lawmaker campaigning for an incredible fifth term. He is also deemed to have a deep understanding of legislative processes and government networks. He also has strong visibility and name recognition across wards.
What Hon. Tobun has going for him in this election is the unflinching support of Hon. Princess Surah Animashaun, the Executive Chairman of Epe Local Government, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, the Oloja of Epe Kingdom and Chief Seriki Bamu, the APC Apex Leader of Epe.
However, he is facing stiff opposition from Hon. Lanre Ogundele and Hon. Segun Agbaje, two political heavyweights with grassroots appeal. Hon. Lanre Ogundele is really campaigning intensively this time around as if his life depends on it, compared to his compatriot Hon. Segun Agbaje, who uncharacteristically has been docile despite his popularity and wider appeal in Epe Constituency I.
Hon. Abiodun Tobun
Political Connections: High
Grassroot Appeal: High
Financial War Chest: High
Zoning Favouritism: Low
Hon. Lanre Ogundele
Political Connections: High
Grassroot Appeal: Low
Financial War Chest: Average
Zoning Favouritism: High
Hon. Segun Agbaje
Political Connections: High
Grassroot Appeal: Average
Financial War Chest: High
Zoning Favouritism: High
Verdict: Hon. Abiodun Tobun to take the ticket if the elites are to determine the ticket, but if party members are to determine it through their membership card, it’s Hon. Lanre Ogundele, especially if he can lobby Hon. Segun Agbaje for support and alliance.
Epe Constituency II
Hon. Sylvester O. Ogunkelu’s position in Epe Constituency II is quite different from what we see in Epe Constituency I. His political future is less about longevity fatigue and more about structure, performance, and alliances.
He has incumbency going for him as he was first elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. Hon. Ogunkelu is still considered relatively “young in office” compared to long-term incumbents, which gives him a balance of experience without heavy fatigue.
Hon. Ogunkelu is currently in a strong but not invincible position because of the zoning agreement between Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA and Eredo LCDA in Epe Constituency II, which allows two-term power rotation, which party stalwarts and elites are bent on not truncating the agreement for equity and fairness.
The feelers in Epe Constituency II are that it is the turn of Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA and particularly Agbowa-Ikosi, which has the highest voting strength and currently lacks any meaningful political appointments despite the stellar performance of APC during the electioneering period.
Party stalwarts are, however, not oblivious of the voting strength of Agbowa-Ikosi and the clamour for ‘Agbowa Lokan’, a slogan on the lips of everyone in Agbowa-Ikosi and its environs. No wonder there are so many contenders and bigwigs from Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA, with 90% coming from Agbowa-Ikosi.
Other aspirants jostling for Epe Constituency II are Hon. (Engr.) Adeleke Ifeshile, Hon. Olumuyiwa Ogunlari, Hon. Lucas Ogundalu, Hon. Idris Shipe, Hon. Lekan Dabiri and Hon. Segun Adetola.
Hon. Sylvester O. Ogunkelu
Political Connections: Average
Grassroot Appeal: Low
Financial War Chest: High
Zoning Favouritism: Low
Hon. Adeleke Ifeshile
Political Connections: High
Grassroot Appeal: Average
Financial War Chest: Average
Zoning Favouritism: High
Hon. Olumuyiwa Ogunlari
Political Connections: Low
Grassroot Appeal: Average
Financial War Chest: Low
Zoning Favouritism: High
Hon. Kunle Dabiri
Political Connections: Average
Grassroot Appeal: Low
Financial War Chest: Average
Zoning Favouritism: Low
Hon. Segun Adetola
Political Connections: High
Grassroot Appeal: Average
Financial War Chest: Low
Zoning Favouritism: Low
Hon. Shipe Idris
Political Connections: Low
Grassroot Appeal: Low
Financial War Chest: Low
Zoning Favouritism: High
Hon. Lucas Ogundalu
Political Connections: Low
Grassroot Appeal: Low
Financial War Chest: Low
Zoning Favouritism: High
Hon. Adeniyi Soliu
Political Connections: High
Grassroot Appeal: Average
Financial War Chest: High
Zoning Favouritism: Very Low (from the same Axis and Hometown with the incubent.
Verdict: The experienced Hon. Adeleke Ifeshile is highly favoured and considered the favourite for Epe Constituency II due to his grassroots appeal, experience, contributions to Agbowa-Ikosi, especially his Solar Power Illumination projects, the clamour for ‘Agbowa Lokan’ and the need to honour the zoning agreement between Eredo LCDA and Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA.
Hon. Dabiri, who recently moved his polling unit from Bariga to Ikosi-Ejinrin for this ambition, is not considered the needed home-based representative by the people of Agbowa-Ikosi, coupled with the inexperience of new entrants like Hon. Idris and Hon. Ogunlari, while Hon. Adetola is a two-term executive chairman of Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA and not from Agbowa.
Ibeju-Lekki Constituency I
Hon. Mojeed Fatai Adebola (APC) is the incumbent lawmaker representing Ibeju-Lekki Constituency I and currently serves as the Chief Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Hon. Adebola is one of the most entrenched and structurally powerful lawmakers in Lagos politics today, especially within the rapidly evolving Ibeju-Lekki axis.
With Hon. Adebola named as a key figure, other emerging candidates include Hon. Jankalawi and Hon. Rahmon Azeez, while some stakeholders call for new leadership to ensure rotation and broader representation.
Though local stakeholders have expressed a desire for new representation to allow for fair participation, with discussions around moving the seat to the Ibeju zone.
However, Hon. Adebola’s re-election bid has already been openly and unanimously endorsed by the leadership of APC in Ibeju-Lekki Constituency I at a well-attended endorsement meeting held at Hon. Babatunde Isiak’s Office.
The dignitaries include Hon. Isiak Eletu, Hon. Alhassan Eletu, and Hon.(Engr.) Abiola Okanlawon, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos on Mineral Resources.
Hon. Mojeed Fatai Adebola
Political Connections: High
Grassroot Appeal: High
Financial War Chest: High
Zoning Favouritism: Low
Hon. Ramon Azeez
Political Connections: Average
Grassroot Appeal: Average
Financial War Chest: Average
Zoning Favouritism: High
Verdict: Hon. Mojeed Fatai Adebola is highly favoured for the seat.
Ibeju-Lekki Constituency II
Hon. Oladele Ajayi (APC) – known for community-focused initiatives and advocacy for infrastructure development in the area.
Hon. Ajayi, popularly known as Olad Baba, occupies a strategically important but less turbulent seat compared to Ibeju-Lekki Constituency I. His political standing is shaped by a mix of fresh incumbency, local alliances, and the fast-changing dynamics of the Lekki-Epe growth corridor.
Olad Baba, as he is fondly called, is still early in his legislative career and not burdened by long-term anti-incumbency sentiment as he was first elected in 2023.
Hon. Ajayi has received a unanimous endorsement from the APC leaders in Ibeju-Lekki Constituency II for a second term in the Lagos State House of Assembly, aiming for the 2027 general elections.
Prominent APC leaders, including Dr Tola Kasali, endorsed Olad Baba during a meeting held on April 7, 2026, citing “no vacancy” in the constituency for 2027.
Hon. Oladele Ajayi
Political Connections: High
Grassroot Appeal: High
Financial War Chest: High
Zoning Favouritism: High
Com. Abiodun Yusuf (Jankalawi)
Political Connections: Low
Grassroot Appeal: Average
Financial War Chest: Low
Zoning Favouritism: High
Hon. Sakiru Enimakure
Political Connections: Low
Grassroot Appeal: Average
Financial War Chest: Low
Zoning Favouritism: Average
Verdict: Hon. Oladele Ajayi to clinch the APC ticket for Ibeju-Lekki Constituency II.
The murky political waters of Epe Division are no longer a “safe seat” in the traditional sense — it is now a competitive political arena defined by internal power struggles rather than external opposition.
