BY KOLADE OLAREWAJU

Ogun Central Senatorial District

The battle here is a straight one between the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Senator Iyabo Obasanjo Bello and Olugbenga Obadara.

Iyabo is the senator representing the district in the Senate. A Veterinary Doctor, Iyabo was a Commissioner for Health in the Daniel administration between 2003 and 2006 before she contested the Senate seat and won. She is believed to have a lot of fund for her campaign and the influence of her father which secured her the ticket to fight the election.

Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello

Her campaign has focused on distributing various empowerment items to people and reminding constituents on her past constituency projects and the Senator through these is said to be winning the heart of some people. She is however hated passionately by the Gbenga Daniel group and some members of that group have vowed to work tirelessly to ensure she is not returned.

Obadara is a telecommunication expert. He contested the Action Congress [AC] primaries in 2007 but could not make it. Fielding Obadara may prove a hard nut for Iyabo to crack. The campaign of the ACN is so coordinated with all candidates in each constituency being part of the campaign of the standard flag bearer.

Obadara however does not have the financial muscle of Obasanjo Bello, but has relied more on the door to door campaign in the six local government areas comprising the district. The involvement of House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates in the campaign has further added impetus to his campaign. Osoba and Amosun’s influence have also gone a long way in trying to secure victory for him.