10th January, 2011
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business District, Hon. Oyinlomo Danmole, has withdrawn from the Lagos Central Senatorial race, even as Senators Olorunnimbe Mamora and Muniru Muse walk a tightrope.
Danmole had at the weekend picked nomination form for the Lagos Central Senatorial seat in the National Assembly but he made a u-turn yesterday when he announced his withdrawal from tomorrow’s primaries of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
Danmole stated that the decision to withdraw from the race came after widespread consultation with party elders and other stakeholders. The special adviser had been working hard to ensure that he clinched the ticket to represent his senatorial district in the National Assembly.
As for Muse, he had just spent one term as a senator in the upper chamber of the National Assembly representing Lagos Central Senatorial District and wanted to seek re-election for a second term but the party may not give him the nod.
It was also gathered that Mamora who had been representing the Lagos East Senatorial district in the past eight years may not get the party’s ticket.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Lands Bureau, Mr. Gbenga Ashafa, who last Thursday picked nomination form to vie for the same seat is the likely candidate.
Hon. Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, popularly known as GOS is the only old senator that is allowed to go for another term in the senate under Lagos West Senatorial seat and he is a sure bet for the seat as he is unopposed.
For the House of Representatives in Lagos Island Constituency, former Head of Service, HOS, Alhaji Yakub Balogun is said to be favoured by party elders in the ACN because of his wealth of experience as HOS in the civil service and what he had done for his people while in office.
One of the aspirants contesting against Balogun, Alhaji Monsuru Owolabi a.k.a. Batola, has dropped from the Lagos Island House of Representatives race as he is not an Islander. Party elders have asked him to go and contest under Lagos Mainland Constituency where he comes from and he had told his supporters that he is going to the mainland to contest.
This leaves the former HOS and a former lawmaker in the Lagos House of Assembly between 2003 and 2007, Mr. Ade Oshodi in the race.
It was gathered that Oshodi had left for the United States after he left the House in 2007 on health ground and had been there since then, only to come and vie for the House of Representatives seat.
However, as the primaries for the National Assembly kicks off tomorrow, Balogun is highly favoured to clinch the ticket as the pendulum seems to swing to his side.
Also, the ACN, Ikeja Federal Constituency has dropped Hon. Bayo Odulana, a lawmaker representing Ikeja federal constituency at the National Assembly and Hon. Babatunde Ogala, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly for Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke and Dr. Olabode Tawak respectively.
Faleke will replace Odulana at the National Assembly while Dr Tawak will replace Ogala at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The duo were endorsed by the leaders of the party at an elaborate ceremony held at the Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Lagos .
The event was well attended by all political leaders in the area which includes the three LG chairmen that make up the constituency, councilors, market women, among others.
Speaking on why the party prefers Faleke to Odulana, Cardinal James Odumbaku said the endorsement was as the result of the unanimous decision reached by the leadership of the party after a meeting which lasted till the early hours of Saturday morning
He said: “Bayo Odulana is not a faithful party man and representative of the entire people of Ikeja Federal constituency. But this period, they said ‘no’, that they don’t want him anymore.
“When we quizzed Faleke on his ambition, he was able to convince us beyond reasonable doubt. Even the chairmen of Ikeja and Onigbongbo duff their hats for him.â€
Odumbaku urged the delegates to show how credible they were at the primaries by taking up their cards, do accreditation and queue up behind Faleke.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS, Faleki: said “One of. my main priority is to liaise with other ACN members to ensure the enlistment of the 37 LCDAs in the constitution because coming from the local government, I know where the shoe pinches us.
“If these LCDAs are listed in the constitution, Lagos State will be better for it. Also, I’ll ensure that Federal Government projects are brought to Ikeja as well as launch a campaign for special consideration for Lagos, being a former federal capital.â€
— Kazeem Ugbodaga & Jamiu Jisa
