Hosea Ehinlanwo

Hosea Oladapo Ehinlanwo (born 2 August 1938) was elected Senator for the Ondo South constituency of Ondo State, Nigeria, taking office on 29 May 2003, and was reelected in 2007. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).^[1]

Birth and early career

Ehinlanwo was born on 2 August 1938 in Erunna, Ilaje local government of Ondo State. He gained a Bachelor Of Law Degree, Barrister At Law and a Master's Degree In Business Administration, and worked as a Legal Practitioner. Before entering politics his career activities included Teaching, Marketing Manager, Assistant General Manager,University Lecturer, Personnel / Administration Manager as well as Banker. He was the chairman of the now defunct Ilaje/Ese-Odo Community bank Igbokoda. His first foray into politics was a Local Government Councillor in the then newly created Ilaje Ese Odo local government (1977–1979).^[1]

Senate election

Ehinlanwo was elected as Senator for Ondo South on the PDP ticket in April 2003. In the PDP primaries before the 2007 elections it was alleged that Chief Olusola oke won. However Ehinlanwo claimed that the primaries were massively rigged with the support and connivance of the then Governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Agagu and the selection process became the subject of litigation. Ehinlanwo's name was placed on the ballots. Oke protested but an Abuja High Court refused the protest and upheld Ehinlanwo as the elected PDP candidate. After the election, Oke again appealed and this time was upheld in court, and the question was taken to the Supreme Court for final judgement.^[2] The supreme court upheld Ehinlanwo as the duly elected candidate and the supreme court judgement has become a landmark case in the interpretation of the Nigerian electoral act as it pertains to "Substitution of candidates".

Senate career

In a mid-term evaluation of Senators in May 2009, ThisDay noted that Ehinlanwo had sponsored bills on National Water Resources Infrastructure and the National Welfare Commission.^[3]

References