LAHA 2027: THE BATTLE FOR KOSOFE CONSTITUENCY 1 — Can Sanni Okanlawon (Okla) Survive the Anti-Third-Term Storm?

By Olusegun Apena 

The two-term lawmaker representing Kosofe Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly is seeking a third term. On paper, he has the advantage of incumbency, name recognition, and a network built over eight years. On the streets and WhatsApp groups across Kosofe Constituency 1, however, a different narrative is gaining traction: he has had his turn.

The question now reverberating across the constituency is simple: will Sanni Okanlawon, fondly called Okla by admirers, be third time lucky?

 Experience vs Entitlement

Okanlawon’s political résumé is solid. A former Secretary to Kosofe Local Government (SLG) and former Special Adviser on Food Security to the Lagos State Government, he burst onto the legislative scene in 2019 with a landslide victory over Barrister Moyosore Ogunlewe, now Kosofe LG Chairman. In 2023, he survived a scare, scraping through against a Labour Party candidate and SDP’s Hon. Lanre Carew in a tighter contest that exposed cracks in his base.

His supporters argue that those eight years have not been wasted. They point to empowerment programmes, facilitated projects, and constituents placed into the state civil service. More strategically, they argue that Kosofe Constituency 1 needs a ranking member in the Assembly to attract more dividends of democracy, and a third term would put Okanlawon in a strong position for a principal office.

Whispers in Alausa even suggest he is eyeing the Speakership if Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa does not return. That ambition, however, collides with Lagos zoning arithmetic: if the next governor emerges from Lagos Senatorial District (Okanlawon’s base), the Speakership will almost certainly go elsewhere.

But Okanlawon’s biggest liability may not be zoning. It is history.

The Ghost of Agunsoye

Opponents have not forgotten that Okanlawon once vehemently opposed the third-term bid of Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye, former House of Reps member for Kosofe Federal Constituency - a man widely adjudged to have performed excellently. To critics, that makes his current ambition hypocritical.

Leading that charge is a vocal anti-third-term group led by former Kosofe Supervisors Hon. Ganiu Oyebanjo and Hon. Akala, who have been relentless on local WhatsApp platforms.

 Their grievances are pointed: Okanlawon, they say, has not done enough to deserve a third term, and betrayed Oworonshoki residents by failing to stop the controversial house demolitions in the area.

“They say he was silent when our people needed a voice,” one member of the group told this media outfit. “You can’t kick against the third term yesterday and ask for it today.”

Eight Aspirants, One Target

Beyond the agitation, Okanlawon faces a crowded field of eight aspirants, all APC members, all hungry, and all with stories to tell:

Hon. Gbemisola Ketiku - a Kosofe political veteran. Former LGA Youth Leader, Secretary, Supervisor, State Exco member and Executive Secretary. He has contested both Assembly and Chairmanship before, giving him name recognition and a stubborn base. His strength is administrative experience.

Hon. Benson Adepoju (Aworo) - the grassroots mobilizer. Former councillor (2004 pioneer set), legislative aide, LGA Treasurer and current LGA Executive member. Known in every ward from Oworo to Ogudu Ojota.

Hon. Gabriel Oluwafemi - a real estate developer from Oworonshoki who contested in 2023. Young, urbane, and with personal resources. He appeals to professionals and the youth but must prove he is not just a “City Boy member” dabbling in grassroots politics.

Hon. Musiliu Aigoro - a former Commissioner of the Lagos State Audit Service Commission and three-time aspirant for Kosofe Local Government chairmanship. A quiet operator with deep party structure links, he is respected in backrooms for his loyalty and persistence. His strengths lie in executive experience and structure.

Hon. Jumoke Animawun - the former Sole Administrator of Kosofe Local Government and current State Assistant Secretary of the All Progressives Congress Lagos State. She is the only female in the race so far. Her candidacy benefits from APC’s stated commitment to gender equity. If she is popular and influential on the ground, the party may give her “special consideration,” as Chairman Ojelabi recently promised. She must, however, build a war chest and structure fast.

Babatunde Shuhaib Owokoniran - a younger aspirant with ties to youth groups. Energetic on social media, but yet to show a political structure that can withstand a primary.

Hon. Adekunle Afariogun - a former party officer with experience in grassroots campaigns. His strength is his knowledge of ward politics; his limitation is funding and name recognition outside party circles.

Moyosore Badejo — a new entrant whose profile is still emerging. Observers say he is banking on alliances rather than personal structure.

The Math of 2027

Okanlawon’s 2023 narrow escape is instructive. The LP wave may have receded, but voter apathy and internal APC rebellion are real threats. If the anti-third-term sentiment consolidates behind one challenger — the incumbent could be in trouble.

His path to victory lies in three things: (1) reminding the party that ranking matters and he is close to Speakership; (2) out-organizing the fragmented opposition in the direct primary APC has adopted; and (3) neutralizing the “Agunsoye hypocrisy” charge with concrete deliverables in the next 12 months.

For now, Okanlawon appears unperturbed, continuing consultations ahead of the APC primary expected in April or May 2026. He is betting that structure, incumbency, and the promise of a principal office will outweigh the noise on WhatsApp.

Conclusion

The 2027 Kosofe Constituency 1 race is shaping up as a referendum on one man: Sanni Okanlawon. It is not just about projects and empowerment. It is about fairness, memory, and whether Kosofe believes in a third term, and whether it believes in his third term.

With eight aspirants circling and an organized anti-third term campaign baying for change, the lawmaker who once stopped Agunsoye’s third term must now convince the same people that his own is different.