The Leading Contenders & Why Insiders Insist Becoming Bayo Osinowo’s Successor Within APC Is Still Anybody’s Game Barely 2½ Wks To Pry Election

Eniola Adeniyi

Insiders insist getting the ticket to become a candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress for the Lagos East senatorial bye-election remains anybody’s game.

The Senatorial seat became vacant with the death of Senator Bayo Osinowo better known as Pepper as a result of Complication from Covid-19.

There have been huge interests in who becomes the next occupier of the seat with many names thrown- up.

Amongst the leading contenders said to be interested or being pushed for the position by different factions within the APC in Lagos State are former House of Representatives member Dayo Alebioshu, Ex-Commissioner Kaolib Olusanya, Polaris Bank boss Tokunbo Abiru, Ex- Gubernatorial aspirant Bode Oyedele, Former Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former commissioner Dele Alake and Minister Adeleke Mamora.

‘’Any of the leading contenders or anybody out of the bracket can clinch the ticket because Adan (BAT) has not made pronouncement’’ a source.

BAT is the acronym for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the heavyweight politician piloting the affairs of Lagos State behind the scene while Adan used to depict the expertise Tinubu of building support base across party lines is the Yoruba name for the bird BAT.

‘’Intense negotiations are still going on with the multi-faced factions with the party, you know there are lots of factors to be taken into consideration now unlike before when Adan unilaterally takes decisions’’ a source disclosed.

Societynow.ng gathered that the negotiations are meant to make Tinubu sure of his footing before openly backing an aspirant.

Societynow.ng gathered that barely a week to the party’s primary to determine flag bearer for the Lagos East bye-election scheduled for Saturday, October 31 the situation remains dicey for all the contenders.

‘’It is still anybody’s game. It can swing in favor of anybody and an upset can still happen’’ an insider insists.

With the price of nomination and expression of interest forms pegged at N7million, – female aspirants and physically challenged contenders are to pay 50% of the fee – the primary election is scheduled for September 5, 2020.