Lagos West Senator, Solomon Olamilekan, popularly known as Yayi, will contest the 2023 elections in Ogun State.
Olamilekan is seeking the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Ogun West Senatorial District (Yewa/Awori zone).
This is despite previously representing Lagos in the House of Representatives and in the Senate (two terms).
Yayi says his representation will be “a blessing” because the region has not witnessed quality representation and governance in the last 16 years.
The lawmaker shed tears when political leaders, elders and others presented the expression of interest and nomination forms to him on Wednesday in Ilaro.
“In all my years of contesting elections, close to 20 years now, this is the first time I’m getting this kind of gesture”, he said.
Sources in Ogun told newsmen on Thursday that the development has caused rancour in the district.
The incumbent Senator Tolu Odebiyi, also of the APC, wants to return to the Red Chamber next year.
Odebiyi was the Chief of Staff to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, currently Ogun Central Senator and APC presidential aspirant.
The battle line is now drawn between the Bola Tinubu-Yayi camp and Amosun-Odebiyi camp.
Also interested in the seat is Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI), Board Chairman of Ogun Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and an ally of ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel.
Isiaka ran for governor under the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and later the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
As the primary draws near, it is not yet clear which of the three aspirants Governor Dapo Abiodun is supporting.
Meanwhile, Yayi, the Senate Finance Committee Chairman, has responded to claims that he is not from Yewa.
“Is it possible for a man to wake up and say, I am from this area? They are not driving me from Lagos either.
“I am going back home because of my people. Ogun has been created for more than 40 years. Our part of the state has been out of the scheme of things.”
The Senator lamented that Yewa/Awori has not produced a governor, adding that his return “should not be an issue”.
“I am going back home to my roots. I have been on this for some years. It’s not just now that I took that decision.”
Olamilekan recalled that his first attempt to represent Ogun West in the Senate was in 2015.
He said Amosun then “had another agenda” because they were in the same political class.
Yayi further disclosed how party leaders prevailed on him to ignore Amosun but remain in the APC.
“So, I returned to Lagos and I was given the Senate seat. I ran on the platform of APC and I won”, he added.
