Kunle Adelabu
While the much talk about Lagos East Senatorial bye-election has been scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold on October 31, six aspirants have shown their interest in emerging the flag bearer of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the election.
Though, the ruling APC has dominated headlines as several gladiators have shown interest to vie for the seat to replace the former occupant, Senator Adebayo Osinowo who died few months ago after one year into his four year tenure, the main opposition party is, however, not leaving any stone unturned as it is getting ready to challenge APC for the coveted seat.
The ruling party, going by recent happenings, may settle for a consensus candidate. But whatever the case, the party will still have to conduct a primary election to produce a candidate in accordance with the electoral law.
Since it is a national election, the national electoral body, INEC, will have to supervise the primary election for all the parties.
The last time PDP occupied the Lagos East Senatorial seat was between 2002 and 2003 when Sen. Seye Ogunlewe, who is now back in the APC, decamped to PDP after being elected on the platform of the then Alliance for Democracy APC).
However, PDP was unable to secure a re-election after Senator Ogunlewe had completed his term. He lost to AD candidate, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora in the 2003 general elections.
In the Senatorial election held during the 2019 general elections, the PDP candidate, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi ( an indigene of Ikorodu) lost to the APC candidate, late Sen. Bayo Osinowo.
While a section of the party is of the opinion that Princess Oyefusi should reconsider her plan to contest against APC candidate again for the position, others are saying that a level playing ground should be allowed for all the candidates.
Meanwhile, the competition for the Senatorial ticket of PDP has further become more intense and dynamic as another Ikorodu indigene and former Governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Alliance (ADP), Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, who returned to the PDP recently, is said to have joined the race.
Others who are aspiring to vie for the Senatorial seat on the PDP platform are Yeye Agnes Shobajo (Shomolu), Aare Oladotun Hassan (Ibeju Lekki), Mrs Sadiat Odofin Fafowora (Ikorodu) and Moshood Babatunde Olanrewaju (Epe).
According to the PDP Publicity Secretary in Ikorodu Local Government, Mr Femi Adinlewa, four of the six aspirants – Babatunde Gbadamosi, Yeye Agnes, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi and Mrs Sadiat Odofin, have already obtained the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms at the party’s headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
THE IMPACT gathered that the aspirants were first issued Certificate of Confirmation and Clearance in the State to enable them purchase the nomination form. The certificate was reportedly signed by the PDP State Chairman, Otunba Deji Doherty, and the State Organising Secretary, Hakeem Amode.
PDP Aspirants for Lagos East Senatorial Seat :
Princess Abiodun Oyefusi (lkorodu)
Princess Oyefusi, the daughter of the immediate past Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Late Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, CON, was the Senatorial candidate of PDP in the last general elections and lost to the APC candidate.
The Princess of Ikorodu successfully proved her ability to navigate the challenging Nigeria political terrain during her campaign in 2019 as she was able to take her campaign round the entire Lagos East and was able to mobilise huge number of electorate through her well articulated programmes.
In the 2018 PDP’s Senatorial primary elections, Princess Oyefusi, who hails from Ikorodu Local Government Area, defeated other aspirants to emerge the candidate of the party.
Princess Oyefusi is an astute technocrat, entrepreneur and a philanthropist with over 25 years of management experience within the public and private sectors.
She had a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in July, 1999, from the University of Hull, York, United Kingdom.
Her professional membership includes Associate Member (ACIS) – MARCH 1985, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA – United Kingdom), Prince 2 Project Management Practitioner – June 2006, AMP GROUP – United Kingdom, Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) – June 2010.
As a technocrat and manager, one of her position of responsibilities is as the Managing Director – Africa Projects – PPL GROUP, where she was responsible for the management and delivery of Multi-million dollars PPP projects in Africa from Concept Design to Project Delivery, partnership Fundraising and Management of Investors’ Fund, Management of Stakeholders, Project Board and Construction Board, Management of the various partners to the PPP Project, Management of government and public-sector relationship and the management of Consultants, Specialists, Contractors and Personnel and many others.
Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi (Ikorodu)
Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, born October 15, 1967, is a native of Ikorodu. He is a businessman, real estate developer and politician.
He contested for PDP nomination to run as candidate for Governor of Lagos State in 2011 and again in 2015. He joined the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in 2017, and won the party’s Governorship primary election in October 2018 and as the party’s flagbearer in the 2019 Lagos State Gubernatorial election where he emerged as the second runner up. Gbadamosi rejoined the People’s Democratic Party in March 2020.
He is the Chairman/CEO of Redbrick Homes International Limited, developers of the massive Amen Estate, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.
Gbadamosi, who dropped out of his first degree in Lagos State University, attended the now defunct Lagos State School of Basic Studies, Agindingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, after attending three Government Colleges in Eric Moore, Victoria Island, and Ikorodu where he eventually completed his secondary education in 1985.
He was a member, UK Branch of the National Conscience Party NCP, a civil and human rights body formed by the late renowned lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi. He was also part of the NADECO Forum (UK), formed to wrestle power from the military junta and participated in many of the group’s programmes.
The popular politician has won many awards for his political, community and his real estate engagements and achievements.
Yeye Agnes Shobajo (Shomolu)
Yeye Agnes Shobajo attended Clemond Ferrand, Centre Audio Visualdes Langues Modernes, Cavilam Vichy Campus, France, 1973 – 1977, Federal Training Centre for Civil Service Core Training Programme, 1972, and Benevolent High School, Yaba,Lagos.
She also did many courses at the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
Yeye Agnes was the PDP Candidate for the House of Representatives seat in Shomolu Federal Constituency (2010), and Aspirant for the Lagos East Senatorial seat in 2003, 2007, 2915 and 2018.
She is an executive and member of many professional bodies among which are Lagos Chamber of Commerce and industry where is the Vice President, alumnus of Lagos Business School, Member, Executive Committee Franco Nigeria Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Member, the European Union of Inside, Non State Actors Development Project for SW Nigeria among many others.
She was the Southwest Zonal Coordinator, PDP Strategic Mobilisation Network, National Secretary/Lagos State Coordinator, Dr Goodluck for Good Governance Group and Lagos State Coordinator, Atiku Presidential Support Group.
Aare Oladotun Hassan (Ibeju-Lekki)
Aare Oladotun Hassan is from Ibeju – Lekki in Lagos and holds LLB, BL, Dip.Law, CKM, CBA.
He is a legal practitioner, technocrat, philanthropist and human right activist.
Aare Hassan attended Ansar-u-deen Primary School, Okepopo, Lagos. He furthered his education at the Methodist Boys High School, Lagos, and studied Law at Lagos State University, both Diploma and Degree levels. He was called to the Nigerian Bar by the Council of Legal Education in 2012.
He served in various capacities during his student days on the LASU campus.
Hassan, who is currently the President, Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide, is also the Convener, Southern Nigeria Assembly, Secretary General, Nigerian Ethnic National Youth Leaders Forum.
He is the immediate Past Assistant Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Epe Branch, and Chairman, Eti-Osa Bar Forum that led the completion and commissioning of the newly built Christopher Segun High/Magistrate Court, Ajah, Eti-Osa (Now ready to be charted into a fully fledged NBA Branch for lawyers residents practicing in both Ibeju-Lekki and Eti-Osa environs).
The politician, who is aspiring to represent the people of Lagos East at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, was the Alliance for Democracy candidate for the House of Representative in 2019 after which he joined the PDP.
Aare Hassan also contested for the Eti- Osa Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2011 and 2015.
His programmes, if elected a Senator, is to provide succinct representation, ensure adequate interventions and ensure adequate feedback through town hall meeting.
He pledged to present at least 25 Bills in his first 100 days as Senator if elected. Among his proposed Bills are:
Lekki Development Commission Bill, Establishment Bill on Federal University of Agriculture, Ketu- Ikorodu, Lagos, Establishment Bill on Federal University of Aviation, Epe, Establishment Bill on Federal College of Technical Training and Research, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, National Youth Development Commission Bill, National Youth Development Right Bill and National Plebiscite and Referendum Commission Bill.
Others are National Restructuring Affairs Commission Bill, National Education Right Bill, National Transport Fare and Parks Management Authority Bill, National (Regional) Development Commission Bill and National Traditional Religion Board Commission and A Bill to harmonize CCB, EFCC and ICPC into one centralized Anti-Corruption Agency to deal with only Government related grafts, with specific mandate to have statutory special courts distinct from regular criminal cases.
Moshood Babatunde Olanrewaju ( Bob Turner) (Epe)
Moshood Babatunde, who hails from Epe, holds Bachelor of Science in Community Health and Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Management, University of Lagos.
He attended Epe Grammar School, Epe. 1973 – 1979, College of Health Technology, Yaba, Lagos state, 1980 -1982 and 1984 – 1986, Obafemi Awolowo University (Teaching Hospital Complex), Ile Ife, Osun state, 1991 – 1992, University of Lagos, 1993 – 1994 and Houdegbe North American University, Republic of Benin. 2006 – 2009.
Olanrewaju is fully certified in the following areas : Fellow, African Institute of Public Health – AIPHP/FE/170, Certified Mid-level Primary Health Care Trainer – Dukes University, USA, Community Health Officer’s certificate – Equivalence of Higher National Diploma and Community Health Supervisor and Assistant’s certificates.
He was an aspirant of PDP for the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2003 and Lagos East Senatorial seat in 2019.
The Senatorial aspirant was a member of the Unity Party of Nigeria, Primrose Circle, Lagos State, People Democratic Movement and Social Democratic Party.
He is the Zonal Coordinator, South West Zone – PDP National Youths Vanguard since 2018 till date and State Leader – Coalition of All Atiku Support Groups, Lagos state.
He was also the State Coordinator – Coalition of Aspirants, Lagos State, and Director, South West, Contact and Mobilization, Atiku Care Foundation.
Mrs Sadiat Odofin Fafowora (Ikorodu)
Mrs Sadiat Odofin Fafowora is also aspiring for the Lagos East Senatorial position on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
