BY DAPO AKINREFON

THE battle for Lagos senatorial seats comes to a climax this Saturday with attention fixed on the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the major combatants.

Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, the ruling party in Lagos State has consistently produced all Senators from the state. However, just before the 2003 general elections, some elected on the platform of the then Alliance for Democracy notably, Senators Adeseye Ogunlewe and Wahab Dosumu decamped from the party.  Senator Musiliu Obanikoro who entered the Senate on the ticket of the AD also decamped from the party after his election in 2003.

The PDP, however, is also not resting on its oars and is planning to for the first time this year produce a Senator to represent the State in the Senate.

Speaking with Vanguard, the PDP state chairman Mr. Setonji Koshoedo, expressed optimism that his party is sure of coasting home to victory in next month’s election.

Lagos East Senatorial District
Gbenga Ashafa (ACN)
Until recently, he was the Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Lands. He was given the Senate ticket which is currently occupied by Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora. Mamora is allegedly a casualty of the Tinubu/Fashola feud and is said to have lost out on account of his reported mediation or seeming inclination to Governor Fashola.

Ashafa, who hails from Ibeju-Lekki, had a stint in the civil service rising to the position of permanent secretary from which he recently resigned. Though he may not have mustered enough popularity, the perception is that he would be delivered by the impressive machine of the ACN in the State especially after Senator Mamora came out to endorse him.

Al’Mustain Abaniwonda (PDP)
He aspired for the Senate in 1999 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, but was reportedly stepped down on the persuasion of the party leadership.

A former manager of the defunct Standard Trust Bank of Nigeria, he has since his resignation been actively involved in the politics of the State and has a strong support base in Epe, his home town. The division in the party within the senatorial district may be a strong disadvantage.

Oby Ezennaya (APGA)

Little or nothing is known about Ezennaya save the fact that she is a candidate for the party. One other factor that may work against her is that APGA does not have a strong support base in Lagos State, while funding will also affect her chances. Her main strength may come from Ndigbo in the State who may want to throw support for their kinsman.

Lagos West
Ganiyu Solomon (ACN: Current occupant)
A former local government chairman of Mushin from 1999 to 2002, former member of the House of Representatives and incumbent senator representing Lagos West. GOS as he is fondly called is seeking another term on the platform of the ACN and also the only Senator, out of the three that was given the ticket to return.

In his first four years as a Senator, Solomon sponsored no fewer than eight bills _ all geared towards the improvement of different areas of the society. Some of the bills include the Elderly Centre, Cancer Research and Treatment Centre, National Directorate of Employment Amendment, Chartered Institute of Capital Market Registrars, Chartered Institute of Investment and Securities, Chartered Institute of Entrepreneur, Electronic Commerce and Whistle_Blowers Protection.

His district has the highest population in the country and given his stout political background and the fact that the ACN is the ruling party, the odds seems to favour him.

Moshood Salvador (PDP)
A former member of the House of Representatives for Mushin Constituency (1) from 1999 to 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Salvador was also a strong member of Afenifere, a pan Yoruba organization. Also from the Mushin area, he is the senatorial candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A former member of the AD, he is said to be a strong grassroots politician and the contest with Solomon promises to be fierce despite the division in his party.

Femi Gbamigboye (APGA)
Not very popular in the political framework of the state but has a strong point in being the consensus candidate of over 20 political parties who have merged to produce common candidates for the elections. Pundits, however, wonder on the prospects for the coalition.

Opadoyin Ishola (CPC)
He is the senatorial candidate for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), but not much is known about him as he does not have much grassroots support. His chances cannot be said to be bright when compared to other contenders.

Lagos Central Senatorial District
Remi Tinubu (ACN)
She is wife of the national leader of the AC N and former governor, Bola Tinubu. While in office as first lady, she initiated the New Era foundation, which has endeared her to the heart of many Lagosians.

She emerged as the candidate for the district after all other prospective candidates withdrew.

Mrs. Tinubu whose husband is a former Senator has repeatedly affirmed that her effort which would make her family the first to have a husband and wife as Senators was not conceived by her husband.

“At more than fifty I know what I want,” she once said at a press briefing. Despite the alleged conspiratorial plot to humiliate her husband by ensuring her defeat, the likeable former first lady is largely seen as a clear favourite.

Tolagbe Animashaun (PDP)
The PDP candidate is hinging his chances on a free and fair election where he expects he could gain from the votes of enemies of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who may want to spite him through voting against his wife.
“I am looking forward to a free and fair election and I believe the elections would not be a failure” he told Vanguard in a recent interview.

Dapo Durosinmi-Etti (LP)
He was once an active member of the ACN having left the fold for the Labour Party, following mutterings of imposition. He once contested election for governor on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress party, UNCP and is seen as a strong grassroots mobiliser.

The major challenge for him is that LP is not a very popular party in Lagos.

Yemisi Ransome-Kuti (SDMP)
Though she is the candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), she has the perception that the popularity of the Ransome-Kuti family, may give her an edge over others in the contest. A woman of strong political convictions she is, however, challenged by finances and other logistics.