National Assembly poll: Candidates gear up for final showdown

Strong indications have emerged that the National Assembly election billed for Saturday, April 2, will be hotly contested across the country. Already, in states like Anambra, Enugu, Oyo, Plateau, Niger, and Rivers, report by our correspondents show that the top contenders are squaring up for a final showdown. The poll is the first in the series of the long awaited general election scheduled to hold between April 2 and 16. The election promises to be exciting, especially as the National Assembly has become a nectar to young and old politicians in the country. The election also has grass roots bent, as many Nigerians are expected to participate in electing their leaders. The electorate will be filing out to elect 109 senators, as well as 360 members of the House of Representatives. Anambra In Anambra State, the fever is catching fast as the countdown to the April elections draws near. Three parties — the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the Action Congress of Nigeria and the Peoples Democratic Party — are the major parties battling for the soul of the state. The Accord Party, invaded recently by two serving senators and two members of the House of Representatives has also shown a promise of swinging votes. The parties parade an array of candidates that will cow any one any day. In Anambra Central, where the battle appears to be the fiercest, former Governor, Chris Ngige of the ACN, is pitched against former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili of the APGA, the incumbent senator, Annie Okonkwo and the PDP candidate, Chief Ogugua Okoye. The next zone where the contest will be stiff is Anambra South, where another former governor, Dr. Andy Uba of the PDP will be slugging it out with the incumbent senator, Ikechukwu Obiorah of the Accord Party, Chuma Nzeribe of APGA, Chris Atuegwu of ACN and Prof. Nonso Mojekwu of the Congress for Progressive Change. Anambra North, it appears, would be an easy race for Senator Joy Emodi of APGA. But she has to contend with the opposition from Mr. John Emeka of the PDP, Mrs. Jessie Balonwu of ACN, Chief Dennis Odife of Labour Party and Dr. Mike Areh of Accord Party. Osun In Osun State, all eyes will be on the former governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Prof. Sola Adeyeye. On paper, Oyinlola should win the Osun-Central senatorial election against Action Congress of Nigeria candidate, Adeyeye. But the ambition of the Okuku prince to clinch the ticket on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party is under severe threat. Adeyeye, a professor of molecular biology, is vying on the platform of a presumed stronger party in the state — ACN. Adeyeye, a former House of Representatives member, is noted for uprightness, hard work and an intimidating list of achievements. Adeyeye’s party, ACN, controls Osogbo and Olorunda communities, which possess 40 per cent of the votes in Osun-Central. Oyinlola, who is from Odo-Otin, is also being challenged by his former Commissioner for Agric, Chief Kunle Alao. Campaigning on the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party, it is believed that Alao is likely to split the votes in the district among supporters of the PDP. The defection of a former member of the House of Assembly, Mr Niran Ibitoye, an Ifaji prince with mass appeal at the grass roots to the ACN is likely to affect the fortunes of Oyinlola. Plateau From Plateau State, all eyes will be on Plateau South senatorial zone as two Langtang generals, John Shagaya and Jerry Useni, set to battle over who occupies the seat in the upper chambers in the next four years. While Shagaya is contesting on the PDP platform, Useni is the Democratic Peoples Party standard-bearer. Useni was a transport minister and minister of the Federal Capital Territory, while Shagaya once commanded the ECOMOG in Liberia. Another hot contest will be between former Governor Joshua Dariye and younger brother of a former head of state, Dauda Gowon. Dariye is the Labour Party candidate, while Gowon is vying under the PDP on an election that has been described as a walkover for the former governor whose towering image still looms large, not only in the central zone but in the entire state. Oyo In Oyo State, the current Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Mr. Kamoru Adedibu of the PDP is in the race to get the nod of the people of Oyo South to return to the senate. Adedibu, a son of the late controversial Ibadan politician, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, will be slugging it out with Chief Olufemi Lanlehin of the ACN. Lanlehin, a lawyer and former member of the House of Representatives was at different times a commissioner and special adviser in the cabinet of the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Mr. Bayo Lawal will also be contesting the same seat from the Accord Party. In Oyo Central, Chief Jumoke Akinjide is seeking to replace the Senate Leader, Mr. Teslim Folarin. A lawyer and former aide of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, the daughter of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide, is contesting on the PDP platform. She will be contesting against the candidate of the ACN, Mr. Ayo Adeseun. Adeseun was until recently a member of the PDP and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation. Chief Bisi Ilaka of the AP is also in the race for the zone. In Oyo North, Mr. Hosea Agboola, is seeking to replace Adedibu’s son-in-law, Senator Gbenga Babalola in the Senate on the platform of the PDP. Agboola is the current Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in Oyo State. Dr. Wale Okediran of the ACN is also contesting the seat. A former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Festus Adegoke, is also seeking to return to the House to represent Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency. But this time, he has abandoned the PDP for the Labour Party on which platform he will be re-contesting. Rivers In Rivers West, Senator Wilson Ake, who is the incumbent will slug it out with his counterpart in the ACN, Chief Shadrack Akaloku. With Ake’s experience in the Senate and the extent which he took his campaign, it will be difficult for Akaloku to unseat him. Though Akaloku was a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission representing Rivers State between 2000 and 2005 and a special assistant to former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili, such pedigree may not be enough to beat Ake. For Rivers East, the race is between the incumbent Senator George Sekibo of the PDP and Chief Lasbery Amadi of ACN. Amadi was a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003 and Special Assistant to Odili on Infrastructure from 2003 to 2007. Both are very strong in the race. The race for Rivers South East will be fierce due to the way both politicians, Mr. Magnus Abe of the PDP and Dr. Nomate Kpea of the ACN have penetrated the people of the senatorial district. But Abe, who is the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, appears to be more on the ground than his opponent. Having dismissed the incumbent senator, Lee Maeba, in the primary election, his strength in his senatorial district is not in doubt. Enugu Recent events in Enugu North zone have indicated that the elections would not be an easy win. The zone is believed to have the highest number of voting population in the state. INEC recently said it was fine-tuning plan to deploy a sizeable number of security personnel to the area. The senatorial candidates in the zone are the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Mr. Ayogu Eze, of the PDP; Mr. Silk Ugwuogbu, APGA; Victor Amoha, People for Democratic Change; and Maj. Gen. Joseph Okoloagu (retd.) Ogun In Ogun State, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, contesting on the PDP platform for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, has the ACN candidate, Mr. Olusegun Williams, as his closest contender. Bankole may have a smooth sail in getting re-elected for the third time as the ACN candidate may not pose a serious threat. The rival PPN has not presented any candidate to slug it out with Bankole. In Ogun Central, the contest is between Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the ACN candidate, Mr. Gbenga Obadara. Obadara was a former governorship aspirant in the state. The refusal of the daughter of the Late MKO Abiola, Mrs. Lola Edewor, to move to the PPN with the Daniel’s faction brightened Iyabo’s chances in the zone. For the National Assembly election, in the Obafemi Owode, Odeda, Abeokuta North Federal Constituency, it is going to be a keen contest among Olumide Osoba, son of the former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba of ACN and the son of late the MKO Abiola, Lekan Abiola of the CPC, the former chairman of Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Mr. Babatunde Adesina of the PPN and the incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Kayode Amusan of the PDP. Lagos There are indications that the battle would not be easy in Lagos State where the ACN currently holds sway. Adeola Olamilekan, who is contesting the House of Representatives in Alimosho Federal Constituency on the ACN banner is having a fight of his life with the PDP candidate, Segun Adewale. While Olamilekan, who is presently representing Alimosho at the Lagos State House of Assembly intensifies efforts to secure the people’s mandate, it was clear that his arch rival would not give in easily. By EMMANUEL OBE , TUNDE ODESOLA, JUDE OWUAMANAM, FRANCIS FALOLA, CHUKWUDI AKASIKE, OLALEKAN ADETAYO, and OZIOMA UBABUKOH Courtesy Of: Punch