By Dapo Akinrefon

As the race to the speakership seat of the Lagos State House of Assembly gathers momentum, the list of those angling for the plum position has been pruned to five.

Those believed to be in the running for the plum position of the speaker in the House are the current deputy whip of the House, Mr. Rotimi Lateef Abiru, Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, representing Mushin constituency 1, Itori, Mudashiru Obasa, Agege 1, Lanre Ogunyemi representing Ojo II and Moshood Olanrewalu Oshun who is representing Lagos Mainland II.

Lanre Ogunyemi, Mudasiru Obasa, Rotimi Abiru, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, Funmilayo Tejuosho and Gbolahan Yisawu

All the contestants are members of the APC which for the first time has a sizeable proportion of the PDP in the House to offer meaningful opposition.

Given the stability that pervaded the tenure of the outgoing speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, it was not surprising that he recently urged the next set of lawmakers to look out for experienced and a team player to elect as the next speaker.

Ikuforiji gave the advice while speaking at the Quarterly Interaction & Long Service Award for Assembly staff in Alausa Ikeja.

He noted that all the returning aspirants were his allies and that whoever among them  emerged as the next speaker would deliver.

The speaker advised the lawmakers to look for someone who is selfless and has the interest of taking the Assembly to greater heights rather than emphasising on zones.

NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS

•APC: 32
•PDP: 8