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The Battle For The Soul Of Alausa In 2023, Major Contenders To Watch Out For By Niyi Oladipupo

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Ambode Group, faceless, lacks merit
The Battle For The Soul Of Alausa In 2023, Major Contenders To Watch Out For By Niyi Oladipupo- There is no gainsaying the fact that the political permutations and re-engineering of how the political jigsaw in Lagos state governorship election in 2023 will turn out to be is already unfolding.

 

Gomez

There has been clandestine political meetings of sorts by some of the big political parties in the state; and the major issue on the burner is who becomes the next governor of Lagos come 2023.

It will be recalled that in the last dispensation, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was denied the ticket to contest for second term under the banner of All Progress Party (APC) by Bola Ahmed Tinubu who virtually controls the party structure in the state.

Ambode was “politically ambushed” and had to succumb to the pandering and over-bearing influence of Tinubu, while the current governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu became the preferred bride.

Political pundits believe the same fate that befell Ambode could still rear its ugly head as we inch closer to the year 2023

For instance, keen political watchers in Lagos also believe that the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state will be full of intrigues and surprises as there are other powerful candidates eyeing the Government House in Alausa.

To keep the readers abreast of what could happen in the nearest future, we shall be analyzing the likely candidates to look out for and possibly their chances.

HAKEEM MURI-OKUNOLA: Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola who is generally known as HMO, is a Lagos socialite. Loved and admired by many.

He is a Lawyer, who followed the footpath of his late father, Justice Muri Okunola. He is also a public administrator, technocrat and current Lagos state Head of Service.

He has over the years grown to be a man loved by many for his uncommon calmness, intelligence, loyalty and astute brilliancy.

Muri-Okunola was also the former permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development in Lagos state. He began his fast rise through the rungs of public career at Ibile Holdings, an investment arm of the Lagos state Government.

Being the first son of the late respected Justice Muritala Okunola, he caught the eye of the then Lagos governor Bola Tinubu and who made him his personal assistant.

With his educational and family background, there are rumours that Hakeem Okunola believe that the time is ripe for him to throw his hat into the political mainstream arena in the state.

Consequently, he is of the opinion that he has come of age politically to take a shot at the Lagos state seat of power come 2023. His closeness to Tinubu and other political gladiators in the state is seen as a big advantage for him by political watchers.

But others who tend to tread with caution, believe his major drawback is lack of experience and that he may just need to bid his time for the appropriate time.

But in the fiery game of politics especially n Nigeria anything can happen!

WALE GOMEZ: Mr Wale Gomez is ultimately the new toast in town. A man of excellence and impeccable character; and a well known Lagosian in the social circle.

A man of considerable means, a successful businessman and an investment guru. Mr Wale Gomez is married to the beautiful former Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon Titi Oseni, now Mrs Titi Oseni Gomez and he enjoys a lot of political support from some key political gladiators in the state.

He is educated in some of the best known schools both home and abroad, and he is widely travelled.

Some keen political watchers see him as the ‘star boy’ to look out for as the political permutations of who becomes the next governor of Lagos state thickens up.

Rumour has it that most political parties in Lagos are already rooting for him to join their political party. This is the reason political observers believe that he is the most sought-after politician in the state.

In the run up to the last Presidential election, Wale Gomez was a major pillar politically and key ally of former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and the PDP presidential candidate in the election.

His support group, ‘Re-build Nigeria Initiative’ became a formidable force during the 2015 presidential election in Lagos. The group made so much in-roads in the political horizon of Lagos and other adjoining states with million of supporters.

The group activities were so profound at that time that the opposition became jittery.

The handsome looking Wale Gomez is currently in the fore-front of a popular group known as “Iya yi to” L’eko. The group is leading a campaign for a new and better Lagos. Most political watchers believe Wale Gomez has all it takes to occupy Alausa House come 2023.

He has been a-behind-the scene political strategist and an ally of most of the big political gladiators in the state.

He is cool, calculative, forward-looking and extremely industrious. If he emerges as a governor in 2023, some political observers predict that Lagos will be better for it. But time will tell on which political platform he will be actualizing his dream as we inch closer to 2023.

But he sure remains a candidate to watch-out for!

MR DEJI DOHERTY: Mr Deji Doherty was born into the Doherty dynasty of Popo Aguda in downtown Lagos Island in the 60s.

Upon graduation from C.M.S Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, he proceeded to Chicago, Illiniois in the United States of America where he bagged a degree in Industrial Engineering.

Doherty is the chairman of DAIN Group, which includes Dohagro Industries and 10 Degrees Event Center, among others.

He has tried unsuccessfully to become the governor of Lagos State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, without luck.

He has previously contested under the PDP platform in 2007, 2011, and 2015 respectively.

In the political circle he is seen as a serial governorship contester in Lagos state.

Political observers believe Doherty is not done yet, he still has his eye fixated on the Lagos State Government House in Alausa come 2023.

How he is going to achieve this lofty dream remains in the realm of political permutations and Horse-trading that are going to characterized the political space in the coming days and years!

By Niyi Oladipo

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Lagos Majority Leader Alleges Plans To Manipulate Primary Election Results

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Lagos Majority Leader Alleges Plans To Manipulate Primary Election Results

 

The majority leader of the Lagos House of Assembly, Noheem Adams, on Friday raised alarm over alleged plans by some people to manipulate the result of the primary election that produced him as a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

Adams reportedly won the primary election of the party to produce a candidate for the House of Assembly in Eti-Osa Constituency 1 on Wednesday after polling 7,638 against his opponent’s 1225 votes.

 

Speaking to thousands of APC supporters during a Victory March, Adams said accused a top monarch (name withheld) in Eti-Osa of being behind the plan to doctor the result in favour of Saheed Adesegun Bankole, who was defeated in the election.

 

“I want you all very much for the love and passion you have for me and APC. Today is what we call victory walk. We started from VGC with over 4000 APC members. Even inside the rain you stood your ground and you are here to protect your mandate.

 

“Thank you very much for voting for me. I won the election throughout our wards and the INEC officials, DSS and police personnel were there and even the agents of our opponent were there as well.

 

“Let me put it on record that his agents and the police signed that the election was free and fair and they took all the results to the local government collation centre.

 

“When they got there, they presented all the results to the DSS, INEC officials and also to the returning officer and he collected everything and announced that Adams was the winner of the election.

 

“We believe in this party. The only crime I have committed was during the impeachment of the Speaker; that I did not follow them and did not stand against the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly,” he alleged.

 

He said being a politician, he understood “loyalty and how to always be loyal. That is the only crime I committed and today, I’m calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to caution the Oba.

 

“The Oba is the reason why we lost the presidential election in 2023 in the constituency and he is the reason why we lost the House of Representatives seat. He lost in his own kingdom and the results are there at the INEC for all to see.

 

“I’m calling on the Inspector General of Police that if anything happens to me, he should hold the Oba responsible. And in 2027, if we lose the presidential election in the local government, the President should hold him responsible. We have assured the President that we are going to vote for him and he will win.”

 

He urged his loyalists and supporters to remain calm as he trusts the party enough to resolve the issue.

 

President of the Lekki Residents and Stakeholders Association, Sulyman Bello, also thanked the supporters for having faith in Adams.

 

“On behalf of all of all the estates from 1004 and across the entire Lekki peninsula, we thank all the APC members for standing by our friend, brother, father Hon. Noheem Adams.

 

“If all the estates in Eti -Osa Osa, call on him at the same time, he will respond. We also thank God that he got over 7,000 votes and his opponent a little above 1,000 votes. The winning margin is above 90%.

 

“We thank all those of you that voted and also thank President Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership. We extend our gratitude to the APC leaders in Lagos state. If it is not Noheem, it is not Noheem,” he said.

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Ogun 2027: Senator Adeola Yayi Promises Inclusive Governance, Says, Ogun APC Primaries Peaceful, Transparent

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Ogun 2027: Senator Adeola Yayi Promises Inclusive Governance, Says, Ogun APC Primaries Peaceful, Transparent

…Dismisses Claims of Discontent Over Emergence as APC Consensus Candidate

 

ILARO-YEWA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA – The Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election, distinguished Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has assured the people of the state that he would run an all-inclusive government if elected governor in 2027.

 

Fondly called Yayi, the senator currently representing Ogun West in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly made this known on Thursday, May 21, 2026, shortly after participating in the governorship primary at Pahayi, Ilaro Ward 1.

 

Speaking with journalists, Senator Adeola Yayi assured party members that he would not disappoint them if elected governor, pledging to deliver good governance while sustaining the developmental strides of the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

 

According to him, “I want to assure the people that I will run an inclusive government and carry everyone along. It will be an administration that leaves no group or interest behind.”

 

The senator commended party faithful for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the governorship primaries, noting that the exercise reflected the unity and cohesion within the party.

 

Senator Adeola Yayi further expressed delight that the primary election was conducted peacefully across the state, describing the turnout of party members during the direct primary exercise as a strong indication that the APC remains formidable and well-positioned to record landslide victories in the 2027 general elections.

 

He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun for sustaining the internal democracy for which the ruling party is reputed, while reiterating his readiness to run an open and inclusive administration.

 

Fielding questions during the press interaction, the Ogun State APC consensus governorship candidate dismissed claims that some aspirants were aggrieved over his emergence as the party’s consensus candidate.

 

According to him, his emergence was not imposed on the party but was the outcome of extensive consultations and consensus among stakeholders and party leaders across the three senatorial districts of the state.

 

“I am not aware of any aggrieved aspirants over my emergence as the governorship consensus candidate of our dear party. The decision to present me as the consensus candidate was not foisted on the party.

 

“Rather, it was the result of far-reaching consultations and agreements among stakeholders and leaders of the party across the three senatorial districts of the state.

 

“To my knowledge, nobody was cheated and nobody was disenfranchised. I received overwhelming support at the Ogun State APC strategic meeting held at the party secretariat. Thereafter, I met with other aspirants, and we are all committed to working together for the betterment of the people of Ogun State”, he stated.

 

The senator, who was widely cheered across Ilaro metropolis, polled 3,023 votes at Pahayi Ilaro Ward 1, 2,601 votes in Ilaro Ward 2, and 2,419 votes in Ward 3. He later monitored the exercise in Ilaro Ward 2 and Ward 3, where party members and supporters hailed him enthusiastically at every stop.

 

The massive turnout of APC members across polling units in Ogun West, and indeed across Ogun State, was seen by observers of the scene as a demonstration of the widespread acceptance and popularity of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations among the people, without any form of inducement.

 

Ogun 2027: Senator Adeola Yayi Promises Inclusive Governance, Says, Ogun APC Primaries Peaceful, Transparent

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Rainbow Coalition Ambassadors Hails Rivers APC Over Peaceful Conduct of Guber Primaries

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*Rainbow Coalition Ambassadors Hails Rivers APC Over Peaceful Conduct of Guber Primaries*

Charges Chinda to Be Magnanimous in Victory as a Patriot

The Rainbow Coalition Ambassadors (RCA) has commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the peaceful and orderly conduct of its governorship primaries, describing the process as a shining example of political maturity and a departure from the state’s history of acrimonious contests.

In a statement signed by Comrade Jude Chuks and issued shortly after the declaration of Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election, the group praised the APC leadership and stakeholders for ensuring a rancour-free exercise.

The Rainbow Coalition Ambassadors, a prominent support structure aligned with the broader Rainbow Coalition political movement in the state, noted that the smooth conduct of the primaries reflects growing commitment to unity, dialogue, and collective progress ahead of the 2027 polls.

“We congratulate the Rivers State APC for conducting a credible, transparent, and peaceful primary. This achievement underscores the maturing democratic culture in our state and sets a positive tone for the political season,” Chuks read.

The group specifically hailed the withdrawals of key aspirants, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Tonye Cole, which paved the way for Chinda’s emergence, describing the moves as “statesmanlike decisions taken in the supreme interest of peace and party cohesion.

While celebrating the outcome, the Rainbow Coalition Ambassadors charged the new flag bearer to remain magnanimous in victory and demonstrate the spirit of a true patriot.

“Victory at the primary is not an end in itself but a call to higher responsibility. We urge Hon. Kingsley Chinda to extend a hand of fellowship to all other aspirants, stakeholders, and even those outside the APC.

“True leadership demands inclusivity, humility, and the ability to heal divides rather than widen them,” the ambassadors emphasised.

They further appealed to Chinda to prioritise broad-based consultations, youth and women inclusion, and the welfare of Rivers people in his campaign and future governance plans, noting his legislative experience and cross-party relationships as key assets.

The group, however, expressed optimism that, knowing Chinda’s antecedents as a seasoned lawmaker, bridge-builder, and consistent advocate for good governance, he will unify the party, foster inclusive development, and deliver people-oriented leadership that prioritises the welfare of all Rivers people across party lines.

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