Mr Akinwunmi Ambode may just about to bounce back into political reckoning in Lagos state - He has been tipped as one of the likely replacements for Late Senator Bayo Oshinowo in the National Assembly.
Daily Trust reports indicates that silent agitations have commenced for the replacement of Late Senator Bayo Oshinowo. Oshinowo, a former majority leader in the Lagos state House of Assembly died after a brief illness suspected to be COVID-19 at the age of 64. His sudden death has therefore created a vacuum in the upper chamber of the National Assembly. Though the process for his replacement has not started officially, names of possible replacement are already flying within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with five people already been tipped as his likely successor.
According to the report, the possible names include Dr Tola Kasali, a two-time commissioner in the state; the immediate past governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, Senator Oshinowo’s predecessor, Gbenga Ashafa, House of Representatives member Jimi Benson, and Honourable Abike Dabiri, the current Director-General of Nigeria in Diaspora Commission. A public affairs commentator quoted in the report, Segun Adegoke, said any of the five APC chieftains could emerge as a favorite of the party.
Though booted out of the APC last year, Ambode seems to have made peace with party leaders in Lagos in recent times. The former governor appended his signature to a communique recently signed by party stakeholders in the state. A move that suggests he has now bowed to supremacy. Ambode was said to have annoyed the powers that be in the state, hence, the decision not to give him a return ticket in the 2019 governorship election.
Shortly after he was booted out, the former governor was hounded by anti-corruption agencies, but all that seems to be in the past now. Although Ambode is from Epe which is under Lagos Central Senatorial District, he can still be in the Senate to represent Lagos East. Due to its cosmopolitan nature and the apparent aloofness of the average Lagos voter, the state party leaders have a penchant for moving loyal politicians from one constituency or senatorial district to another. A former speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji was from Epe, but at some point was moved to Ikeja federal constituency to contest election in the state.
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