Yayi’s senate replacement: Obanikoro battles Opeifa, Adebule, Orelope as Obasa drops interest

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt (Hon) Mudashiru Obasa, has chickened out in the last minute from the race to replace Solomon Olamilekan Adeola in the Senate.

Two former deputy governors, Dr Aderanti Adebule and Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire locked horns to clinch the Lagos West Senatorial District ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Also in the race are two political grassroots mobilisers and strategists, former Commissioner for Transportation and Head of Presidential Taskforce on Transport, Dr. Kayode Opeifa and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

WesternPost gathered that the transfer of voter’s card and APC membership card by the incumbent Senator Adeola (Yayi) to Ogun West Senatorial District in Ogun State, systematically denied him the opportunity to seek third term in Lagos West.

It was gathered further that Yayi’s diminishing political influence in Alimosho and moves to completely cut-off the influence of Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Lagos, most especially Lagos West, threw up the senatorial ambition of Orelope-Adefulire, who is the Senior Special Assistant on Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Orelope-Adefulire is also the leader of a revolutionary group composed of majorly Alimosho indigenes, Alimosho Liberation Movement (ALM).

In Ojo axis of Badagry Division, leaders of the APC and some members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) are rooting for Akinwunmi Ambode’s deputy governor, Dr. Aderanti Adebule. As it is, Adebule enjoys the support of APC bigwigs in the division.

Dr. Kayode Opeifa who is from the Ikeja Division, particularly Agege axis of the senatorial district, also enjoys the support of some staunch Awori leaders and elders who are sympathetic to the cause of Aworis taking a centre stage in politics not only in Lagos West but the entire state.

Opeifa’s banners and posters have flooded strategic places in Lagos west and the social media space with the slogan of Awori technocrat in politics.

Another political heavyweight, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro whose root was recently traced from Lagos Central District where he was Senator for four years to Amuwo-Odofin area of Badagry Division banked on his strong support base with the leaders of the party in Amuwo-Odofin, Oshodi/Isolo, and Ajeromi/Ifelodun.

The emergence of some elected political office holders in the three local governments are unconnected with Obanikoro’s influence.