Lagos: Ambode, Ashafa, Gbadamosi, Jostle For Osinowo’s Position

The death of Bayo Osinowo, the lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, has seen politicians under the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state show interest in contesting for the by-election.

The sit became vacant when Osinowo was declared dead on June 15, 2020, due to complications related to Coronavirus.

Information gathered has it that the candidates fighting to occupy the position under APC include the former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode; a former occupant of the position, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, a former House of Representatives member, Dayo Alebiosu-Bush, a former Lagos commissioner, Tola Kasali; and the Director General of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri.

The leading candidates under the PDP include a former governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party, Babatunde Gbadamosi; the last PDP flag bearer for the position, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi; and a public relations expert, Adedipe Shobajo.

The spokesperson of the Lagos State chapter of PDP, Taofik Ganiu, while speaking on the development noted that the party would present the best candidate.

He said, “What is operating in the PDP Lagos now is that we are set for any election. For the Lagos senatorial district by-election, we want to field our strongest candidate who will not be rejected by Lagosians. There are seven aspirants already.”

“We are also happy to note that a lot of the APC chieftains are making plans to have us as a platform. We are aware that the APC national body is endorsing somebody and other aspirants are aggrieved. So, our doors are wide open for them to take advantage of it.”

According to him, the plan of PDP is to end godfatherism in Lagos, he further stated that the by-election would be an opportunity for the party to its best hands before claiming the state come the 2023 general elections.

The spokesperson of APC, Seye Oladejo, on his part noted that the party is still mourning the death of Osinowo, aka Pepper.

He said, “At the level of the party, nothing is happening now. It’s barely two weeks that we lost Pepper. Humanity should come into play here irrespective of anybody’s ambition. So, nothing is happening.”

“But I can tell you that it’s going to be in the public domain when the time is right; it will not be hidden.”