Emerging report indicates that no fewer than 13 members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, have indicated interest in contesting for the by-election to fill the Lagos-East Senatorial District position at the Senate.
The former occupant of the position, Bayo Osinowo, died on June 15, 2020, after a brief illness said to be connected with Covid-19.
It was learnt that among leading Candidates for the position in the APC, are a former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; a former occupant of the position, Senator Gbenga Ashafa; a former House of Representatives member, Dayo Alebiosu-Bush; a former Lagos State Commissioner, Tola Kasali; and the Director-General of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
For the PDP, the leading Candidates include a former Governorship Candidate of the Action Democratic Party, ADP, Babatunde Gbadamosi; the last PDP flag bearer for the position, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi; and a Public Relations Expert, Adedipe Shobajo.
The Spokesperson for the Lagos State PDP, Taofik Ganiu, saidthat his party would ensure it fields the best Candidate.
His words: “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.”
Ganiu disclosed that the greatest asset of his party is its plan to end godfatherism in Lagos, adding that, the coming by-election would be an opportunity for the PDP to showcase its best hands before claiming the State, come the 2023 general elections.
However, the APC Spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, noted that the ruling party is still mourning the death of Osinowo, aka Pepper.
He said: “At the level of the party, nothing is happening now. It is 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 is going to be in the public domain when the time is right; it will not be hidden.”
