Lagos APC Senatorial Race: Obanikoro, Opeifa Cleared For Lagos West; Eshinlokun-Sanni, 3 Others For Central; Abiru Only Aspirant In East

By Dayo Badmus,

The Screening Panel set up by the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to screen Senatorial Aspirant of the party have screened and cleared all the seven Aspirants from Lagos State that appeared for screening members of the panel.

Four of the Aspirants were cleared for Lagos Central Senatorial District, two from Lagos West and only one from the Lagos East Senatorial District.

Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, incumbent Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District was the only Aspirant screened and cleared from the District.

In fact, thegazellenews.com learnt that no APC member collected nomination and expression of interest forms to run against the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industries.

“Since he replaced the late Senator Adebayo Osinowo aka Pepper in the Senate, Senator Abiru has performed beyond expectation and party members, elders and leaders are unanimous in their choice.

He is our sole Aspirant,” an APC leader from the zone told this medium on the overwhelming preference for the current Senator.

Two Awori brothers: Senator Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro and Dr Isiaka Kayode Opeifa are jostling for the ticket in the Lagos West Senatorial District.

The two were screened and cleared by the panel in what many see as a victory for the Awori people of the Lagos West Senatorial District, head or tail, an Awori man is on the verge of representing the zone in the Red Chamber.

The two Aspirants are diehard supporters, loyal and committed disciples of the National Leader of the party and Presidential Aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the two are backed up by real and practical political experience at all levels.

It is going to be an interesting race between two Awori brothers.

Lagos Central Senatorial District have more Aspirants – four in all cleared for the contest.

They are: current Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni; former Minister of State for Defence, Ademola Seriki; former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Oyinlomo Danmole; and Honourable Hakeem Apatira.

Of the four, Eshinlokun-Sanni parades a formidable grassroots politicking which has endeared him to the people.

He has accumulated experience at the Executive and Legislative Arms of government which has put him in higher pedestal.

He has also run held away at the Secretariat of the party as Secretary while also being a former Secretary of the Lagos State Microfinance Institute (LASMI).

His closest rival is Ademola Seriki.

Oyinlomo Danmole was a former Lawmaker and was Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters to Asiwaju Tinubu during his second term in office as Governor of the state.

Not much is known about Apatira apart from being the Managing Director of Drain Ducks, an agency created by Asiwaju Tinubu to clear drains and gutters to tackle flood in the state.