Bye-Election: Lagos APC Chieftains Throw Weight Behind Late Osinowo’s Son, As Ambode Wins Poll

By Oasis Magazine

A majority of Lagos East Senatorial District voters and leaders decided in favour of immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwumi Dapo Ambode to fill the vacuum left behind by late Sen. Sikirulai Adebayo Osinowo who until his death represented the people of the district at the red chamber of the National Assembly.

A poll published by Jumu’ah Abiodun, a political analyst and social commentator on his twitter handle @jumuahabiodun recently, found that 63% of the voters decided in favour of Ambode

Among all contenders, two-term senator, Bareehu Gbenga Ashafa and former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji had 15% votes respectively and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa with 7%.

Jumu’ah pollsters said the question regarding Ambode, Ikuforiji, Ashafa and Dabiri-Erewa to fill the vacuum not awful, yet they implored with an inquiry posing to why Chief Lanre Razak or the late Senator’s son, Dr. Tunde Osinowo names were omitted from the poll.

Majority of APC chieftains who spoke with Jumu’ah Abiodun on condition of anonymity after the poll said they believe that Tunde Osinowo ought to be considered for the position.

“You have done well with your poll, though, to be realistic with you the late Senator’s son (Tunde) should be given the opportunity to represent Lagos East Senatorial District; we have seen what transpired in Osun when the late ‘Serubawon’ Senator Adeleke died,” a top APC Chieftain said.

Another APC chieftain added that, “it’s the decision of leaders of that Senatorial District, but in fairness, his son should be given the ticket to contest the bye-election.”

A top APC chieftain from Lagos Central stated: “I’m not from their Senatorial District but Ambode should be given the ticket. However, the late Senator’s son not a bad choice either. I trust his father’s friends and associates can support him to accomplish that.”

“Your survey was sentimentally biased against Lanre Razak. How come a survey has limited space to accommodate all contenders! Next time, do a poll that can accommodate all contenders, ” a top APC Chieftain who was formerly an editor of a National Daily responded via WhatsApp.

In his reaction to the party chieftains, Jumu’ah stated: “It was not deliberate neither not in any error to omit Chief Lanre Razak from the list, nonetheless, twitter poll can’t accommodate more than four names.”

On Osinowo’s son exclusion, the social commentator said: “It’s the decision of your party members and leaders to decide on whether Osinowo’s son or not should be given the ticket. What I have done was an open poll where everybody all around the world participated.”