By this time next year, the political atmosphere in Lagos would have gathered the right momentum as gladiators scheming to take over from the incumbent; Babatunde Raji Fashola, should have registered their intentions.

This, however, is in line with the tradition in the state that prides itself as the STATE OF EXCELLENCE, where the contest for the plum office usually comes with a lot of stakes that are usually very high, in many ways higher than those who could be considered pretenders.

For watchers of the polity in the state, the build up to the polls is not generating enough excitement and can best be described as lull with the major political parties seeming to put the question over who to be their respective candidates in abeyance.

Owing to the prevailing circumstances, aspirants in the two parties seem to be reading the body language of the leadership of the parties perfectly by ensuring that they do not jump the gun by running foul of the wishes and rules that would guide the process that would eventually throw up the candidates.

It is a tale of different strokes for different folks in the two major political parties in Lagos State, while there seems to be some sort of amity and peace in the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is trying to put its house in order.

The members of the ACN who have one ambition or the other are keeping such under wraps awaiting the outcome of the on-going merger process with similar other progressive political parties, which is expected to culminate in the emergence of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Some of them believe shrewdly that nothing meaningful can be done until the envisaged merger is consummated and the necessary structures put in place before giving vent to their aspirations which they hope to actualise in the next dispensation.

Those who seek to take over from the incumbent in the ruling party are rather watching the political trends while at the same time, watching the body language of their national leader, Bola Tinubu, to know whether the odds would favour them when the chips are down.

This scenario has led to so many speculations within and outside the party regarding those who might be nursing the ambition, which are said to be very tactful in their aspiration so as not to incur the wrath of the party leadership.

However, those said to be in contention for the office have been making subtle lobby and underground campaigns though many of their moves have been discrete. They have also been enlisting the support of those considered very close to the national leader of the ACN, at least to help sound him out to know where his preference lies in the forthcoming dispensation.

In the last few months, a lot of individuals have been mentioned by pundits and rumour mongers alike as either aspiring for the office or have been endorsed by Tinubu for the governorship post. Some other groups have been springing up to campaign for the various candidates who have been tactful enough to distance themselves from them (the groups).

In recent times, various names have been bandied as likely candidates for the governorship. They include such persons as Senators Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, Oluremi Tinubu, Bareehu Gbenga Ashafa and all the serving members of the upper legislative chambers are daily being peddled around as likely candidates.

Others include a former commissioner for the environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, the incumbent speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji and the current Permanent Secretary in the Lands office, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

On its part, the PDP, which has been embroiled in factional crisis for some time, the situation seems very muted as they are grappling with how to forge amity and consensus within the rank and file.

This has not however prevented those who harbor governorship ambition to begin to ventilate their aspiration and names of such individuals have been mentioned across the state in recent times.

One of such is the former High Commissioner to Ghana, Alhaji Musiliu Obanikoro, a real estate consultant, Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, and scores of others but one name that is causing ripples within the state is that of Mr. Jimi Agbaje.

Agbaje is hugely popular amongst the people of the state but one major snag that has continued to dog his ambition has been the need to secure a popular platform for actualizing his ambition.

Sources within the PDP told ZONAL WATCH that the leadership of the PDP is doing everything to get him into the party from the ACN to contest on the party’s ticket. In fact he is said to have met with President Goodluck Jonathan in furtherance of the objective.

http://leadership.ng/person/babatunde-raji-fashola

Keep speculating. Na for your eyes Remi go become governor.

Musilou Obanikoro should just forget it. He had his chance when he contested against a relatively unknown Fashola yet Fashola beat him to it. it will be much more difficult because ACN has raised the bar a little bit in Lagos. The contest is between the aspirants in ACN. But the question remains, will there be a primary election in ACN? I hope things change this time aroung so that people can elect their choice at the primaries. I also hope that what i've been hearing about Remi Tinubu being Tinubu's choice is not true.

Where did Remi's story come from??

Tinubu is smarter than that nauuuu...

Absolutely nothing wrong with Remi becoming the Governor of LAS if she's qualified. Problem is, she's not. Madam Remi is a very soft hearted person and a woman who wants to hold arguably the most important governorship position in the Federation must be strong willed and vocal (someone in the mould of Dora Akunyili).

That said, I think I'll throw my weight behind Dr. Muiz for now. I still feel he's d only one apart from Dr. Agbaje that can keep the ball Uncle Fash has set in motion rolling.

Jimi Agbaje is most likely going to be the next Governor of Lagos.Come 2015 the masses will pay back ACN/APC for their elitist policies.

The same way people speculated in 2007, only for Tinubu to push forward an unknown Fashola!

chukwudi44: Jimi Agbaje is most likely going to be the next Governor of Lagos.Come 2015 the masses will pay back ACN/APC for their elitist policies.

Guy, you no read say Jimi Agbaje na ACN member? You see no wrong in PDP poaching ACN/APC members but if it was the other way round we no go hear word!

I can tell u rite 4rm a reliable source that just as fashola was a shocker 6yearz ago....senator mamora wud be d suprise candidate in 2015 take it or leave it.

Desola: Keep speculating. Na for your eyes Remi go become governor.

YOU MEAN ADIUKWU BAKARE

.

Afam4eva: Musilou Obanikoro should just forget it. He had his chance when he contested against a relatively unknown Fashola yet Fashola beat him to it. it will be much more difficult because ACN has raised the bar a little bit in Lagos. The contest is between the aspirants in ACN. But the question remains, will there be a primary election in ACN? I hope things change this time aroung so that people can elect their choice at the primaries. I also hope that what i've been hearing about Remi Tinubu being Tinubu's choice is not true.

ACN has said they dont use primaries in their party they select candidates

if there had been an election within ACN then Fashola would have been number 100.

The selection obviously is working for them thus far so why change it

I suspect they wont choose a Popular candidate who would be too much of a politician rather they would choose an administrator

Tinubu would do the Politics the Governor would be the facing the administrative work strictly

I hope its Senator Olorunmibe Mamora

dayokanu:

ACN has said they dont use primaries in their party they select candidates

if there had been an election within ACN then Fashola would have been number 100.

The selection obviously is working for them thus far so why change it

I suspect they wont choose a Popular candidate who would be too much of a politician rather they would choose an administrator

Tinubu would do the Politics the Governor would be the facing the administrative work strictly

I hope its Senator Olorunmibe Mamora

This is a warped mentality and you should be ashamed of yourself for spewing this crap. The same ACN will be the ones shouting democracy to high heaven yet they can't practice what they preach in their own party. Elections are conducted so that the people's choice is selected. If they must continue like this then they have to stop sounding democracy into our ears cos that will make them uber-hypocrites.

If the ACN is violating any law then INEC should sanction them as deemed appropriate

dayokanu: If the ACN is violating any law then INEC should sanction them as deemed appropriate

It's not about violating laws but about putting democratic values to practice especially when you preach these same values. If that's the case then ACN or Tinubu has no moral value to call PDP or Jonathan out on any issue related to democracy. Infact, PDP despite their shortcomings still manages to conduct a primary election everytime yet people who don't do same will be the ones criticizing them. Progressives indeed.

Afam4eva:
It's not about violating laws but about putting democratic values to practice especially when you preach these same values. If that's the case then ACN or Tinubu has no moral value to call PDP or Jonathan out on any issue related to democracy. Infact, PDP despite their shortcomings still manages to conduct a primary election everytime yet people who don't do same will be the ones criticizing them. Progressives indeed.

Try and talk like an intellectual and not with emotions

Democracy is governed by law and protected by the constitution. Thats why election disputes are settled by courts and grey areas taken to supreme courts

Democracy isnt governed by morality or whatever as whats moral is skewed by human emotions

Once again what law has ACN violated.

If Party XYZ choose their candidates by visiting Amadioha shrine as long as it doesnt violate the law or constitution then all is fair

Clinton was President, His wife was a Senator and still trying to be President.
George H Bush was President, His father was senator, His first son was Governor of Texas, His other son Governor of Florida

A narrow minded individual like you would say "Is it only them" the Intellectuals would ask "Have they flouted the law in any way" Thats what the biggest democracy understands that laws govern us not morality.

dayokanu:

Try and talk like an intellectual and not with emotions

Democracy is governed by law and protected by the constitution. Thats why election disputes are settled by courts and grey areas taken to supreme courts

Democracy isnt governed by morality or whatever as whats moral is skewed by human emotions

Once again what law has ACN violated.

If Party XYZ choose their candidates by visiting Amadioha shrine as long as it doesnt violate the law or constitution then all is fair

Clinton was President, His wife was a Senator and still trying to be President.
George H Bush was President, His father was senator, His first son was Governor of Texas, His other son Governor of Florida

A narrow minded individual like you would say "Is it only them" the Intellectuals would ask "Have they flouted the law in any way" Thats what the biggest democracy understands that laws govern us not morality.

It's not about whether it violates laws or not but about practicing what you preach. If ACN chieftains can tell us that they're not democrats, we won't kill them. But it reeks of hypocrisy when the same people who shout democracy from Monday to Friday, january to december cannot even practice the same democracy in their party. It's a shame and you should be ashamed of yourself for defending such. You would have been singing a different song had it been PDP that was selecting candidates.

Stop embarrassing yourself. What has Clinton and Hillary clinton got to do with the subject. Was Hilarry elected or selected? Whats the Bush's family elected or selected? What the heck is your point exactly?

Afam4eva:
It's not about whether it violates laws or not but about practicing what you preach. If ACN chieftains can tell us that they're not democrats, we won't kill them. But it reeks of hypocrisy when the same people who shout democracy from Monday to Friday, january to december cannot even practice the same democracy in their party. It's a shame and you should be ashamed of yourself for defending such. You would have been singing a different song had it been PDP that was selecting candidates.

Stop embarrassing yourself. What has Clinton and Hillary clinton got to do with the subject. Was Hilarry elected or selected? Whats the Bush's family elected or selected? What the heck is your point exactly?

If they were not practising democracy then INEC would have banned them right?

ACN makes it clear to everyone they select candidates within the party to contest election.

If its against the constituion or against democracy we practise then INEC should call them to other

Anything else is hot air

Afam4eva:
It's not about whether it violates laws or not but about practicing what you preach. If ACN chieftains can tell us that they're not democrats, we won't kill them. But it reeks of hypocrisy when the same people who shout democracy from Monday to Friday, january to december cannot even practice the same democracy in their party. It's a shame and you should be ashamed of yourself for defending such. You would have been singing a different song had it been PDP that was selecting candidates.

Stop embarrassing yourself. What has Clinton and Hillary clinton got to do with the subject. Was Hilarry elected or selected? Whats the Bush's family elected or selected? What the heck is your point exactly?

What is democracy in primary election, a situation where only the rich would have chance leaving credible poor candidate behind after they have bribe the excos who would be voting with money and bags of rice, as long as they don't violate any rule given by INEC they are still democrat for all i care

Afam4eva:
This is a warped mentality and you should be ashamed of yourself for spewing this crap. The same ACN will be the ones shouting democracy to high heaven yet they can't practice what they preach in their own party. Elections are conducted so that the people's choice is selected. If they must continue like this then they have to stop sounding democracy into our ears cos that will make them uber-hypocrites.

the rudiment of democracy is selection before election.

Meritbaba: What is democracy in primary election, a situation where only the rich would have chance leaving credible poor candidate behind after they have bribe the excos who would be voting with money and bags of rice, as long as they don't violate any rule given by INEC they are still democrat for all i care

Well said.

If it was left to the so called Nigerian internal democracy would Fashola even make top 50 of the contestants?

"Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody loves Jimi Agbaje"

He may have left DPA because the party no strong but I love JA, not his party

Afam4eva:
This is a warped mentality and you should be ashamed of yourself for spewing this crap. The same ACN will be the ones shouting democracy to high heaven yet they can't practice what they preach in their own party. Elections are conducted so that the people's choice is selected. If they must continue like this then they have to stop sounding democracy into our ears cos that will make them uber-hypocrites.

Just to be clear on this score, some of the oldest political parties around do not run primaries to select electoral candidates either. The Labour party in Britain, which has been in existence for more than 100 years, is a prime example of this -- see Miliband backs US-style primaries .
And so is its main rival - the tory party - which only experimented with open primaries in two constituencies (Totnes and Gosport) for the first time in 2009.

Before vigorously contesting the fairness of this approach, within a democratic setting, consider how ethnic minorities and women - who otherwise would have remained largely unrepresented - have benefited from inclusion.

Senator Obanikoro is the candidate to beat should he declare for 2015. He's got the reputation, a performer, he's not a yes-boss kind of individual, God fearing with Lovely family and friends. Koro has NO single allegation of corruption or financial misappropriation, this is not 2007 where Bode George along with other ungrateful elements worked against Koro at same time eat with him, this is not 2007 where AC used propaganda to varnish Koro's image, this is not 2007 where Lagos resident will accept 200 naira recharge card as inducement to vote ACN. Next election will be 2015, PDP in lagos is more united than before, Koro's Popularity will be manifested at time appropriate... As Koro will always say power comes from God and time will tell.

barcanista: Senator Obanikoro is the candidate to beat should he declare for 2015. He's got the reputation, a performer, he's not a yes-boss kind of individual, God fearing with Lovely family and friends. Koro has NO single allegation of corruption or financial misappropriation, this is not 2007 where Bode George along with other ungrateful elements worked against Koro at same time eat with him, this is not 2007 where AC used propaganda to varnish Koro's image, this is not 2007 where Lagos resident will accept 200 naira recharge card as inducement to vote ACN. Next election will be 2015, PDP in lagos is more united than before, Koro's Popularity will be manifested at time appropriate... As Koro will always say power comes from God and time will tell.

yes, musiliu obanikoro will be the best candidate for the next election in BAYELSA state cos he got no allegation of corruption or financial misappropriation. this is not 2011, where fisherman president worked against timprey sylva to install Dickson a militant.

Aderostock:

yes, musiliu obanikoro will be the best candidate for the next election in BAYELSA state cos he got no allegation of corruption or financial misappropriation. this is not 2011, where fisherman president worked against timprey sylva to install Dickson a militant.

what is the relationship between Lag Poll and Gej/Bayelsa Poll? must you bring GEJ into every matter? by the way the last time i checked, virtually everyone in bayelsa aren't happy wit Sylva, same fate awaits Amaechi. but meanwhile, stick to the topic at hand boy

Afam4eva:
This is a warped mentality and you should be ashamed of yourself for spewing this crap. The same ACN will be the ones shouting democracy to high heaven yet they can't practice what they preach in their own party. Elections are conducted so that the people's choice is selected. If they must continue like this then they have to stop sounding democracy into our ears cos that will make them uber-hypocrites.

a party is an institution that is governed by her own by laws and regulations. And the rules of INEC doesn't mandate it as a compulsion to do primaries.

If parties can reach an agreement, it does not concern even jonathan. They dnt jes pick a candidate, they agree on it.

And dnt try to sound like u're holy than d others by asking them to practice democracy!

Institutions are governed by their own laws, and unless if in contradiction with the satutes of INEC, they are fine by it!

All u people who claim to be intelligent actually sound dumb! Especially when clouded with the fogs of ur unnecessary hatred!

barcanista: what is the relationship between Lag Poll and Gej/Bayelsa Poll? must you bring GEJ into every matter? by the way the last time i checked, virtually everyone in bayelsa aren't happy wit Sylva, same fate awaits Amaechi. but meanwhile, stick to the topic at hand boy

what's the relationship btw Lagos election and bayelsa election? Answer 'both are in Nigeria'. that makes musiliu obanikoro eligible to contest under PDP comes 2015 in bayelsa state. who cares about Ameachi or the fisherman president?

Meritbaba: What is democracy in primary election, a situation where only the rich would have chance leaving credible poor candidate behind after they have bribe the excos who would be voting with money and bags of rice, as long as they don't violate any rule given by INEC they are still democrat for all i care

Nonsense. Are you saying since the "rich" stand a better chance of winning primaries, it is preferable to grant the power of selection to the RICHEST AND MOST POWERFUL member of the party to UNILATERALLY select any buffoon that would be loyal to him? So it is acceptable for the greedy Tinubu to handpick candidates that would ensure he remains in charge of the state's treasury? It's like saying a 'perfect' dictatorship is preferable to an imperfect democracy.

I assume you people should be too intelligent for these lame arguments.

I just hope Jimi Agbaje would get the PDP ticket. I am certain that that would nail the coffin of these ACN vagabonds in Lagos, and send them out of the state back to Iragbiji in Osun State where they belong, with their tails between their legs.

The oppressed masses are desperately waiting for their pound of flesh.

pro01: I just hope Jimi Agbaje would get the PDP ticket. I am certain that that would nail the coffin of these ACN vagabonds in Lagos, and send them out of the state back to Iragbiji in Osun State where they belong, with their tails between their legs.

The oppressed masses are desperately waiting for their pound of flesh.

I don't know why you lots are so frustrated than the bereaved. why can't you people mind your business in your enclaved region? same way APC will disgrace MR. Obi comes November in Anambra. we are watching .........

Just like his political mentor, and father-in-law, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Hon Oyetunde Oladimeji-Ojo, is enmeshed in some controversy surrounding his academic qualifications. He is the husband of Tinubu’s daughter, who has been imposed on Lagosians as the new Iya Oloja. We will recall that Tinubu had issues with his date of birth, his real name, schools he attended and even who is his biological mother.

Hon Oladimeji-Ojo a member of the House of Representatives, who was foisted on the people of Ekiti by Tinubu, may have found his way into the House with fraudulent academic qualifications and credentials.

Checks reveal that Oladimeji-Ojo who represents Ijero/Efon/Ekiti West, claims a date of birth that do not add up when you consider when he claimed he left high school, and got a diploma in journalism.

The lawmaker who was an ex parking attendant in London before his foray into politics claims to have been born in 1979, but was admitted to a journalism school in 1988, which made him nine years old. Besides it is unclear where he spent six years ( 1988-1994), to obtain a diploma.

His time at Senton Secondary School (also 1988-1994), also tallies with the period he spent at the unnamed journalism school. He also claimed a degree in Politics from the University of Greenwich in the United kingdom , just like Asiwaju claimed to have attended a university in Toronto.

Below is his profile from the official website of the National Assembly

Hon. Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo – Member of Nigeria’s House of Rep
Date of Birth: 26 December 1979
Political party: ACN
Education: Senton Secondary School: 1988 – 1994
Diploma Journalism: – 1988 – 1994
M.A Peace and conflict, University of Ibadan, 2008-2010
BA Politics University of Greenwich
Businessman
Legislative Experience: Communications (Chairman), Anti-Corruption, National Ethics & Value Industries.