By Lukman Omikunle
‘Yayi is a native of Pahayi village, Ilaro in the Yewa area of the state and as such, he has the right to represent his senatorial district without let or hindrance’
Barrister Abiodun Akinboyede, a former Senatorial candidate under the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, has said Senator Olamilekan Adeola Solomon, popularly known and addressed as ‘Yayi’ has all the constitutional rights to contest and represent Ogun West District in the National Assembly ahead of the 2023 election.
According to him, Yayi’s right of candidacy to represent the district is backed by the 1999 constitution adding that talks of his ineligibility to represent his native Ogun West from certain quarters are unnecessary campaigns of calumny from opposing camps.
Speaking to some journalists at his office, Adio Akinboyede & Co Law Offices, in Ota, Ogun State, Abiodun emphasized that Yayi’s political structure in the zone has become a moving train no one can stop with false campaigns.
Yayi who currently represents Lagos West Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate is set to switch representation to his root – the Ogun West district.
Olamilekan Solomon Adeola is a native of Pahayi village, Ilaro in the Yewa area of the state and as such, he has the right to represent his senatorial district without let or hindrance.
This development has no doubt heralded a stage for a political battle for the soul of the district as other politicians and the incumbent Senator representing the area, Tolu Odebiyi are not concealing their intention to give Yayi a good run in the race ahead.
Recently, comments on his eligibility to switch and contest became a major subject of discussion on some media platforms and particularly coming from opposing camps echoed across the district.
Addressing the issue, Akinboyede said “the right to contest as a Senator of the Federal Republic as provided in the Nigerian constitution, Chapter 5 part 1 section 65 of the 1999 constitution and items of disqualification copiously provided under section 66 and this doesn’t exclude Senator Yayi to legally contest in Ogun West.
“The first and most important has stated by the constitution, is that an individual willing to become a senator of the federal republic must be a citizen of Nigeria and must be at least age of 35 years old.
“In addition, any individual who wishes to run for the office of senator in any constituency in Nigeria must be educated up to at least School Certificate level that means all senators must have completed at least secondary school education.”
He pointed out that without these and all other criteria, Yayi wouldn’t have been in the senate, saying “ Ogun West needs his experience for massive human and infrastructural development in our senatorial district.”
Akinboyede who contested the Ado/Odo-Ota Federal Constituency seat in the House of Reps in 2019, added that those who are in doubt of Yayi’s eligibility should seek and check the constitution and avoid going on air and other platforms to publicly advertise their ignorance.
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Three-time Ogun State governorship candidate, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka and Senator Tolu Odebiyi, currently representing the district among others will slug it out with Yayi in the race to pick the Ogun West Senatorial All Progressives Congress, APC, ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The game has started!
