Bayo Osinowo Takes On Gbenga Ashafa, Queries His Denials Over Lagos East Senatorial Primaries Election.

Senator-elect, Bayo Osinowo & Outgoing-Senator, Gbenga Ashafa.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2019 Senatorial election in the Lagos East Senatorial District, Hon. Bayo Osinowo has come out with questions for the incumbent, whom he defeated with very wild margin at the primaries, Senator Gbenga Ashafa over what happened at the polls which produced him as candidate.

It would be recalled that after the primaries, supporters of the Senator had gone to town with claims and counter-claims over what transpired before, during and after the primaries, especially when their candidate did not emerge victorious.

Here are some of the issues raised by Osinowo for Ashafa and we hope he comes out soon with answers for them.

“He was not only aware of the primary he also participated fully in the exercise. He participated in the first day and was fully on ground in the following day when a rerun was ordered.”

“It’s rather unfortunate that a senator will go such way because he lost an election. He said I did not scale through the screening process. He should provide evidence of my disqualification.”

“I purchased the nomination form and duly participated in the screening exercise in Abuja where I was duly cleared by the screening committee. If the party at the national level is giving some lawmakers automatic tickets, the state chapters will be informed. There was nothing like that.”

 “Let’s ask Ashafa whether he was the only one given automatic ticket because the result of the primaries showed that two other aspirants contested Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola in Lagos West Senatorial District.”

“In the Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu was returned unopposed because no aspirant challenged her.”

“If he has been given automatic ticket, why did he participate in the primary the first day and the following day during the rerun? Senator Ashafa should stop being economical with the truth.”

 “I went through the legal process laid down by the party. Party members voted overwhelmingly for me. The process was supervised by an electoral body sent by the national leadership of the party to Lagos.”

“This panel is headed by an eminent personality in the person of former Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Lucky Imasuen. It was the panel led by Imasuen that announced the result.”

“For Ashafa to reject the result announced by a legitimate panel set up by the party is tantamount to being economical with the truth.”

 “It’s a straightforward matter. There was a contest between two major contestants and the winner was duly announced by the body legitimately charged with the duty of organising and supervising the contest. Don’t forget that the panel chairman described the exercise as peaceful and successful.”