PDP confirms 22 expressions of interest to replace sacked minister, Obada

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that about 22 members of the party are lobbying to replace a former Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada, who was recently sacked by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The PDP chairman in Osun State, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, said this in Osogbo on Sunday.

He  said the State Working Committee had compiled the list and would send it to the President to pick a replacement for Obada. He declined to disclose the names of those jostling for the plum job, but said  the lucky one would be known when appointed.

Olaoluwa said, 'Twenty-two persons have expressed their interest to become minister. The SWC will forward the list to the President, who is at liberty to choose any of them irrespective of the senatorial district the preferred one comes from. It is left to him (President); he could choose from the senatorial district Obada comes from or decides to appoint the next minister from any of the senatorial districts.'

Obada, who was removed alongside other eight ministers held a thanksgiving service at Methodist Church Cathedral, Otapete, Ilesa on Friday.

Supporters of the former minister who thronged the church, carried placards with the portraits of Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

Also, the Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has named an architect, Lanre Towry-Coker; Tunji Shelle; and a former governorship candidate of the party in the 2011 election, Ade Dosunmu as its ministerial nominees.

The nominees' names would be forwarded to President Jonathan for final consideration, according to a statement on Sunday.

The statement noted that the exercise to select the candidates was conducted across the three senatorial districts in the state.

From the Lagos West Senatorial District the nominees are Segun Ogundimu; a former member of the House of Representatives, Moshood Salvador and immediate-past chairman of the party in the state, Setonji Koshoedo.

Nominees from the Lagos East Senatorial district are a member of the Board of Trustees of PDP, Aduke Maina; a retired Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Civil Service, Bode Oyedele; and a public administrator, Ologijo.

The three nominees from the Lagos Central Senatorial District - Towry-Coker, Shelle and Dosunmu- the statement added, emerged as the winners. - Punch.