15 Vie For Fashola’s Job

Fifteen candidates are currently battling to take over Babatunde Fashola’s job as Governor of Lagos  State, South-West Nigeria.

The 15 contestants are seeking election into the governorship seat even as Fashola is going for a   second term, but this time, with the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,  Victoria Adejoke Adefulire, as his running mate on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria  (ACN).

The candidates, some of whom are not originally from Lagos State, include Abayomi Nurain who is  seeking to be governor, with his running mate, Ajibade Emiabata-Balogun, on the platform of the  Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Michael Adegbola Dominic and his running mate, Itesi Chinyere Helen, are also fighting for the  governorship and deputy governorship seat on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)  and Adegboyega Dosunmu and his running mate, Katherine Olayinka Eniafe-Olatunji, are seeking to be  elected for the seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Others include: Michael Niyi Osoyemi and his running mate, Toyin Esther Olaniyi, on the platform of  the NNPP, Oluwaniyi balogun Tope and his running mate, Ola Ashinowo Christ, on the platform of the  African Liberation Party (ALP), Abayomi Olatunji Asunni and his running mate, Sonnie Ekwowusi, on the  platform of the National Transformation Party (NTP).

Also contesting are: Daniel Abiodun Tawede-Mega Progressive Peoples Party, Akele Ayodele-National  Conscience Party (NCP), Akinola Obadia and his running mate, Lizzy Popoola-Community Party of Nigeria  (CPN), Victor Adegboyega Adeniji and his running mate, Babalola Morounmubo Linda-Peoples Redemption  Party (PRP), Akintola Bello and his running mate, Martin Ayaegbunam-Nigerian People’s Congress (NPC),  Osagiede Lugard and his running mate, Lawal Sikirat-African Democratic Congress, Olulana Olurotimi  Michael-Labour Party (LP).

The Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) has Bashorun J.K. Randle and ANPP has Yomi Tokoya as  governorship candidates in the April election.

However, analysts believe that the candidates are ‘feather weight’ in the fight for the mandate of the  people of the state when they are compared with the incumbent governor.

They also believe that the candidates only want to add the contest to their CVs “that they once ran  for the governorship position of the State.”

Meanwhile the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the list of presidential  candidates for the April election.

The 18 candidates include: President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo, who are vying  for election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Others include Nuhu Ribadu and his running mate, Sunny Stephen Ugochukwu on the platform of the Action  Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare on the platform  of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), Ibrahim Shekarau and his running mate, John Odigie-Oyegun  on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

As usual, the Fresh Democratic Party (FDP) produced Reverend Chris Okotie who does not have a running  mate yet; the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) produced Barrister Chris Nwaokobia.

Prof. Pat Utomi is vying for the presidency with Lawal Funtua as his running mate under the Social  Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) while Dele Momodu is seeking election to be President with Yunusa Tanko  as his running mate under the National Conscience Party (NCP).

The duo of Ebiti Onoyom Ndok and Galadima Samari were produced by the United Nadtional Party for  Development as presidential candidate and his running mate respectively, while the People for  Democratic Change has Mahmud Mudi Waziri and Clement Ayogu Eze as presidential candidate and running  mate.

Others include Rasheed Adewale Shitta-Bey for the Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), Nwadike Batos  Chikezie for the Peoples Mandate Party (PMP), Yahaya kingsley Ezeemoo Ndu for the Afriican Renaissance  Party (ARP), Akpona Solomon for the National Majority Democratic Party (NMDP), Ambros Awuru and his  running mate, Ibrahim Abdullahi for the Hope Democratic Party (HDP).

Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP) produced Iheanyichukwu Godswill Nnaji for the presidency and  Kadijat Abubarkar as his running mate, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) produced Prof. Peter  Nwagwu for the presidency while Mani Ibrahim Ahmad is his running mate.

—Eromosele Ebhomele