The push for greater female representation in Nigeria’s political space is gaining fresh momentum, with women in the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensifying calls for automatic tickets ahead of the next election cycle.
Across the federation, female party members are advocating what they describe as “extraordinary gender inclusion,” arguing that structured support for women candidates is necessary to achieve fairness and balance in elective offices.
In Lagos State, where the APC currently has only one female senator and one female member of the House of Representatives, discussions are already underway about possible continuity for serving lawmakers such as Senator Oluranti Adebule and Chief Kafilat Ogbara, both of whom are being considered for return tickets.
There are 24 federal House of Representatives seats in Lagos, and women within the party believe that the growing agitation for automatic slots could significantly improve female representation in the state’s political structure.
One of the key beneficiaries of this momentum is Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, who is eyeing a return to the House of Representatives to represent Epe Constituency.
A lawyer and seasoned administrator, Oladunjoye previously served as Lagos State Commissioner for Education and also held the position of Vice Chairman of the APC in Lagos East. Over the years, she has been actively involved in party structures and internal mobilisation efforts that contributed to electoral victories.
Within the Lagos APC, she is widely regarded as a loyal and experienced party figure with a long history of public service and political engagement.
Her aspiration, however, is set against an emerging contest involving incumbent lawmaker Hon. Wale Raji, who is reportedly seeking a fourth term. Raji, aged 73, remains a strong political figure in the Epe axis, with influence stretching across several communities in Ikorodu Division and parts of Epe.
The debate over zoning and fairness has also been reignited by former lawmaker Lanre Odubote, who argued that the seat should rotate within the constituency to promote equity. He suggested that aspirants from Epe North, particularly Agbowa/Ikosi LCDA, should be given a chance to represent the district at the federal level.
According to him, allowing new areas within the constituency to produce representation would strengthen inclusion and balance political participation across communities.
“If fairness and equity are to mean anything, then rotation should be considered seriously,” Odubote was quoted as saying, adding that fresh representation from underrepresented areas would enrich governance outcomes.
Supporters of Oladunjoye, however, believe her experience in governance, law, education, and administration places her in a strong position to deliver effective representation if elected.
Her academic and professional background spans the University of Lagos, where she earned degrees in History and Law, as well as the Nigerian Law School, after which she was called to the bar in 1999. She also built a career across public service and the private sector, eventually rising to the position of Chief Executive in an insurance firm before her appointment as Commissioner in Lagos State.
As the APC continues internal consultations, the debate over automatic tickets, gender inclusion, and constituency zoning is expected to shape political alignments in Lagos ahead of the next elections, with women groups insisting that greater representation is no longer optional but necessary.
