By CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

JOSTLING for one of the nine vacant ministerial slots has begun with three leading members of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, emerging as the party’s ministerial nominees from Lagos.

They emerged after a committee of the state chapter of PDP concluded a screening at the KI Hotel, behind Etiebet’s Place, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, amid rumours that former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, had handpicked an anointed candidate to fill the position.

However, George was said to have summoned an emergency meeting of the party on Sunday where it was agreed that three nominees should be democratically elected from the three senatorial districts.

Before the enlarged meeting, Vanguard learnt that all interested party members were asked to indicate interest and appear before a screening committee at  the senatorial district level.

Those who were said to have indicated interest in Lagos Central included Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, Hon. Tunji Shelle, Mr. Tolagbe Animashaun and Mr. Lanre Towry-Coker.  Shelle and Dosunmu emerged tops at this level.

For Lagos East, there were Mr. Bode Oyedele, Mrs. Aduke Maina and Prince Oyebola.

In Lagos West, there were Dr. Segun Ogundimu, Mr. Deji Doherty and Hon. Setonji Koshoedo. Salvador and Koshoedo won at this level.

After intense screening by the Chief Kola Balogun-led committee, which was inaugurated by George, Shelle (Lagos Central), Salvador (Lagos West) and Maina (Lagos East), emerged as nominees.