Following social media rumors going round about All Progressive Congress, unanimously picking a senatorial candidate to replace the seat of late Senator, Sikiru Adebayo Osinowo, the party find it compelling to make an official statement to debunk the news as baseless and implore the public to discard as a rumour, propagated by naysayers.
In a Press Statement released by Oluseye Oladejo, Lagos State Public Secretary, APC, it was made emphatically clear that the party is still mourning the sudden demise of the resolute and articulate crusader cum lawmaker, whose death was untimely and as a result came as a shock to the party.
The statement stated:
Our attention has been drawn to the various speculations as regards the emergence of a candidate for the yet to be scheduled Lagos East Senatorial by-election.
Lagos State APC will like to state emphatically that the process of selecting a candidate is yet to commence for a number of reasons.
First, our party is still mourning the demise of Senator Sikiru Adebayo Osinowo whose sudden departure sent shock waves through the fabrics of the party.
The INEC is yet to officially notify the party of the scheduled by-election.
The constitution of our party is explicit about the process for the emergence of candidates for elections and we are irrevocably committed to abiding by this. The nomination is either by consensus or a primary among the aspirants.
The party acknowledges the interest the by-election may generate as the ruling party, but we want to urge all and sundry to play by the rules.
We wish to reiterate our commitment to provide, at the appointed time, a level playing field for all the aspirants to engender internal democracy.
We want assure the media, party men and women and other interests that we will communicate the plan and process and program of the party towards the by-election at the appropriate time.
Bayo Osinowo was reported dead on 15 June 2020, and was buried the same day at his Ijebu-Ode residence.
