No fewer than 13 members of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State have reportedly indicated an interest in contesting for the by-election to fill the Lagos East Senatorial District at the Senate.
The former Lagos Governor, 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 are the APC members that have shown interest
For the PDP, the leading candidates 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 former occupant of the position, Bayo Osinowo, died on June 15, 2020, after a brief illness said to be connected with COVID-19
The APC spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, said the ruling party was 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.”