250 APC Aspirants Battle For 40 Seats At Lagos Assembly

Ikuforiji

Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji

Eromosele Ebhomele

Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji
Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji

Over 250 aspirants from the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos state, western Nigeria, are currently fighting for seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly in the forthcoming elections in the country, a P.M.NEWS findings have revealed.

This figure includes the 35 old members currently planning to retain their seats for between a second and fifth terms as lawmakers. One of those seeking a seat in the House under the platform of APC is Nollywood star, Desmond Eliot.

The House comprises 40 lawmakers, six of whom are principal officers including the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who is vying for the position of the governor of Lagos State.. Four of the principal officers are currently jostling to return as Speaker.

It was learnt that the Deputy Leader of the House, Lola Akande, who had earlier started campaign for a seat at the House of Representatives, has stepped down with an agreement that she would be given a political appointment after the 2015 elections.

Lawmakers such as Moshood Oshun, Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla and Lawrence Ayeni, are gunning for the House of Representatives.

Kolawole Taiwo, the oldest serving lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the House reportedly flagged off his campaign on Tuesday for a fifth term in the House.

Mr. Taiwo is one of those currently aspiring to replace Ikuforiji as Speaker if returned by his constituents.
At the Acme Road, Lagos secretariat of the APC where screening started for the aspirants on Tuesday, there was anxiety among the aspirants and their loyalists especially with regard to the number of aspirants from the same party in some constituencies.

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It was learnt from party sources that only two constituencies including Epe Constituency 1 occupied by Abiodun Tobun and one of the two constituencies of Ibeju-Lekki currently have lawmakers as sole aspirants from the APC.

“The other constituencies have as many aspirants as between five and 22 and this is the reason for the apprehension,” a party member told P.M.NEWS Wednesday morning.

Segun Olulade, spokesman of the House, explained that the number of aspirants does not pose a challenge as it only shows how attractive the House of Assembly in the state has become especially due to the hardwork of the current occupiers of the House.

He also expressed confidence that lawmakers would be elected based on their achievements.

Wahab Alawiye-King, who was part of those screened on Tuesday, also told P.M.NEWS that he was optimistic about returning to the House considering his contribution to the advancement of his constituency and the state as well as his efforts to empower a lot of his constituents.

The result of the screening exercise has not been released at the time of this report as it was learnt that the exercise would continue on Wednesday.

The party’s spokesman in the state, Joe Igbokwe, could not be reached, but a member of the state party executive who is not mandated to speak officially, told P.M.NEWS that there could be some disqualifications where possible.

“It is not to witch-hunt anyone but where an aspirant does not provide enough convincing details about himself or herself, such aspirant could be disqualified,” he said.

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