Lawmakers intensify tussle over Lagos assembly speakership

One of the contenders for the coveted position, the immediate past secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State and former chairman of the Lagos Island Local Government Area, Mr. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, said there appeared to be a gang-up against him by his colleagues despite being favoured by party leaders. Daily Trust reliably […]

One of the contenders for the coveted position, the immediate past secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State and former chairman of the Lagos Island Local Government Area, Mr. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, said there appeared to be a gang-up against him by his colleagues despite being favoured by party leaders.
Daily Trust reliably gathered from a top member of the APC leadership in the state that Eshinlokun is favoured in the state APC apart from the zoning arrangement of the party which is in his favour.  
“Party leaders are in support of  Eshinlokun to emerge the next Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly because the Governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode, is from Lagos East, his deputy, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule is from Lagos West.
“He is the preferred candidate among those that have shown interest in becoming the next Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly. He is qualified having been a member of the House between 1999 and 2003. He is not a first timer. The zoning formula favours him,” the source said.  
Meanwhile, investigations revealed that some do not want Eshinlokun to emerge as the next Speaker despite the tradition of the Assembly that first time members cannot emerge as speaker.
An unconfirmed report has it that  members of the House, particularly the 20 that will be returning, are not keen over Eshinlokun becoming their leader and their opinion has been made known to the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
It was also gathered that at an impromptu meeting with Tinubu at his Bourdillon residence, representatives of the House informed him that  Eshinlokun would create disharmony among members of the assembly if he emerges speaker.
It was learnt that the lawmakers reminded Tinubu that Eshinlokun is still battling to get his nomination as the APC candidate for Lagos Island State Constituency 1 validated by the court.
The lawmakers noted that his opponent before the primaries, Hakeem Masha was the candidate recognised by the party and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but a Lagos High Court nullified that and proclaimed Eshinlokun the  APC’s candidate.
They recalled that Masha has gone to the Appeal Court which gave an order for maintenance of status quo, that Masha should have been the one who contested the election and not Eshinlokun in the first instance. They urged party leaders to allow Eshinlokun sort himself out at the court before aspiring for the leadership of the House of Assembly.