House Of Assembly Contenders Adopt New Campaign Strategy

Before the recent Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, primaries, members of the Lagos State House of  Assembly only carried out their campaigns with a high degree of uncertainty.

It was gathered that most of them did not know how to go about their campaigns even though they nursed  the ambition of coming back as representatives of their people.

Those who even dared to begin campaign only did so by placing small posters on doors to their offices  within the Assembly complex.

While the small rectangular poster on the door to the  office  of Hon. Olawale Oshun carried the  inscription: “ooo yato joo, Oshun Gban gba, oshun Kabita, continuity 2011,” the poster in favour of  Hon. Rotimi Olowo stated: “2nd season for an outstanding legislator. Let’s do it again. Lagos State  House of Assembly, Shomolu Constituency 1-one with God for excellent and quality representation.”

This was how it went. Even Hon. Ajoke Adeniyi-Adegeye had her posters posted on the door to her office  before she finally decided not to run.

But the situation and strategy has changed. Lawmakers who successfully scaled through the primaries  have now taken the campaign to the next level.

This time, while some adopted the use of big banners to declare their intentions, others have resorted  to using almanacs and calendars which they distribute to their constituents.

Yet, some have simply branded vehicles which carry big photographs of the lawmakers and the office  they are vying for. Such vehicles also carry campaign messages from the lawmakers.

This new strategy is unique since it was not adopted by the lawmakers in previous elections.

Those who are known to have branded their vehicles include Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla, who is said to  have designed about 10 cars for the campaign with the inscription: “Alausa 2011: Boluwatife.  Consolidating eight years of unbeatable legacy.”

The 52-year old Speaker of the Assembly has also started, though, with a little poster, which carries  the inscription: “A New Dawn. Vote Rt. Hon. Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji for Lagos State House of Assembly,  Ikeja Constituency 1. The pay-off of the poster is bringing effective representation to my people.”

Others include Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet of the Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 2 who has posters and a  branded bus with “Assembly 2011: My Choice,” as its inscription and Hon. Ajibayo Adeye of Kosofe  Constituency 2 who has the inscription: “The Credible Choice” on his campaign posters and branded  vehicle.

Hon. Lola Akande representing Ikeja Constituency 2 at the House, has two photographs on her branded  bus with the inscription: “Lola Akande carry go while Rotimi Olowo, on his Toyota wagon with two of  his photographs says: “Let’s do it again.”

Indeed, the people of Lagos will do it again as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  has said that the state recorded about six million voters at the recently concluded voter registration  exercise, making it the highest in the country.