FEB. 16TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS: CANDIDATES TO WATCH
Few hours to the national assembly elections in Nigeria, Remo Times has identified some of the leading candidates in the forthcoming elections across different
political parties.
The selected candidates to
watch in the forthcoming elections is without any prejudice to the
chances of candidate of other political parties in the elections.
The analysis below is in no
particular other;
OGUN EAST
SENATORIAL CANDIDATES
SENATOR LEKAN MUSTAPHA – APC CANDIDATE Senator
Lekan Mustapha is a force to reckon with among candidates for the Ogun East
senatorial district seat at the upper chamber of the national assembly.
Chief Mustapha was a former Senator representing the district. The Ijebu- born
politician understands the game like the back of his palm. Many believed that,
he was instrumental to the victory of Amosun’s second term bid, particularly in
Ogun East district of the state.
It is believed that, for a politician
of his caliber, and coupled with his network of political contacts and
followership across the state, his victory is only a matter of time.
Like Otunba Adewunmi Onanuga, his
victory at Saturday’s poll is necessary to prepare the ground for the victory
of the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun on March 2nd.
ENGR ADEOLA
AYOOLA SOSANWO
Engr Sosanwo is the PDP candidate for
the Ogun East Senatorial district seat at the national assembly. He is about the youngest candidate in the race for the Senate.
Though, a popular candidate with deep
financial war-chest, Sosanwo’s chances in the race for the Ogun East Senate
Seat has been largely reduced by the unresolved supremacy battle between the Buruji faction of the party and that of Ladi Adebutu faction.
Unlike other candidates which have
had enough time and opportunity to campaign, the protracted litigation
confronting the party has taken most of the time needed for effective campaign
and public engagement.
Though, anything can happen in politics, but many still believes the protracted battle for supremacy has greatly reduced Engr Sosanwo's chance at tomorrow's poll.
Another factor that may put paid to Sosanwo's ambition is the fact that the Ladi Adebutu faction has also fielded another candidate from their camp, though not recognized by the electoral umpire, INEC.
HOUSE OF REPS, REMO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY CANDIDATES
HON LAWAL
MABAWONKU– PDP CANDIDATE, REMO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY One of the top contenders for the Remo federal constituency seat on the
platform of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP is Hon Lawal Mabawonku.
Mabawonku emerged the PDP candidate
for Remo federal Constituency through the Senator Buruji Kashamu faction of the
party.
Though, a candidate in the elections,
very little has been done by the candidate in terms of campaining for the
position.
This is understandably so as his
faction of PDP has been at loggerheads with the Ladi Adebutu faction for the
control of the party structure in the state. The chances of the Sagamu-born erudite
educationist and Proprietor of Greenfield School, Ogijo is very slim, for
obvious reasons.
OTUNBA ADEWUNMI
ORIYOMI ONANUGA, APC CANDIDATE Otunba Adewunmi
Onanuga is the APC candidate for the Remo Federal Constituency and the only
female candidate contesting for the seat. Being the candidate of the ruling
party in the forthcoming national assembly elections, Otunba Onanuga is sure to
have some edge above other candidates in the elections. However, the breakaway
faction of the party into the Allied People's Movement, APM is a major setback
for the realization of her ambition.
Being the only female candidate in
Saturday’s House of Reps elections, Onanuga has an edge above her male
counterparts whom many believed have dominated the political scene for so long.
Her massive followership among the old and young across Remo, which was evident
in the large turnout of supporters during her campaign, may also be an added
advantage.
One major strength of Onanuga in the
forthcoming election is the fact that Nigeria's vice president, Prof Yemi
Oshinbajo is from Ikenne, one of the three major towns that makes up the Remo
federal constituency and this will definitely sway some home support in her
favour.
In addition, the recent door-to-door
campaign visit of the vice president to Remo and a meeting with Remo
traditional rulers, who pledged support for their son may work like magic for
the woman they call ‘Ijaya’.
Another positive support for ‘Ijaya’
is the fact that the APC governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun is from
Remo stock of Ogun State. Consequently, the victory of Hon Onanuga on Saturday
is a major factor that will set the tone for the victory of Prince Dapo Abiodun
at the March 2nd governorship election.
BARR YINKA MAFE
One candidate that cannot be overlooked in the quest for the Remo federal
constituency seat is Asiwaju Yinka Mafe. He is the candidate of the newly
formed Allied People's Movement, APM peopled majorly by disgruntled APC members
and supporters of the incumbent governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle
Amosun.
Mafe, as fondly called by his teeming
supporters is the current majority leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly.
He is a two-term member of the state assembly. He also had a stint as a councilor
in Sagamu local government during the Osoba administration.
Those who are rooting for Mafe believes
that he is the most experienced person to represent Remo at the lower chamber
of the national assembly due to his over 16 years legislative experience. Some
have also said he is vocal and loved by many youths across Remo land, due to
his age. Mafe himself is banking on what he
termed his track record of achievements as councilor and two-term house of
assembly member as the edge he has above other contenders for the office.
Meanwhile, some pundits have said that, though Mafe is
popular and loved by Remo people and the youths especially, but his association with Amosun's APM party will
pose as a major challenge to his emergence at the polls due to the fact that
the governor has not been fair to the people of Remo, in terms of development
projects in his eight years in office.
Others also opined that, the
ill-treatments and public attacks on the APC governorship candidate, Prince
Dapo Abiodun and the governor's disrespect of Nigeria’s incumbent vice President, Prof Yemi Oshinbajo both
whom are distinguished Remo sons by Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his supporters might
work against the realization of Mafe's ambition in Remo land.
Some other analysts also said that, supporting Mafe in APM is tantamount to Remo mortgaging the governorship slot ceded to the division by APC for the House of Reps seat, which is naturally and statutorily in its kitty.
Whichever way the electorates vote in tomorrow's elections, one thing is certain, the will of the good people of Remo Land and Ogun State in general will prevail at the polls.
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