The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tokunbo Abiru, has been declared the winner of the Lagos east senatorial by-election held on Saturday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, revealed that Abiru polled a total of 89,204 votes while Babatunde Gbadamosi, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, secured 11,257 votes.
Abiru defeated his opponent by a wide margin in all the five local government areas in the senatorial district.
Below are the results in all LGAs:
Shomolu
APC: 17,728
PDP: 2,067
Epe
APC: 22,213
PDP: 1,826
Ibeju Lekki
APC: 16,336
PDP: 937
Ikorodu
APC: 19,204
PDP: 3,766
Kosofe
APC: 13,723
PDP: 2,661
There had been some expectations that APC hold on Lagos politics would be shaken by agitations and discontent arising from ENDSARS protests and the ensuing violence. Saturday’s election put paid to all speculations as the ruling APC ran over all opposition virtually unopposed in any of the Local Government Areas, confirming that the 21 year incumbency of the ruling party led by former Governor and obvious presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, remains formidable and unfazed by what is mostly social media opposition with no grassroots efforts or commitment.
Reacting to his victory, Abiru stated that the APC cannot afford to fail the electorate.
The former Managing Director of Polaris Bank commended APC leader, Bola Tinubu; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman of Lagos State APC, Babatunde Balogun; Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC); the State Executive Council (SEC); State Working Committee (SWC), and his campaign council for putting up a formidable structure that earned the people’s mandate.
Noting that the election was won with a landslide, Abiru said, “Now that we have secured this Senatorial mandate; we cannot afford to fail our people.
“We cannot afford to fail those who voted for us; those who chose not to vote for us for whatever reasons and those who did not vote at all. We cannot afford to betray the invaluable trust our people reposed in us as a political party and as their representatives in government.
“Now is the time to translate all the promises we made into positive and tangible outcomes our people are expecting us to bring about. Now is the time to take our people from the realm of expectations to the limelight of fulfilment.”
The former bank chief committed himself to offer people-focused quality representation and ensuring the welfare of constituents.
Abiru promised to work with his colleagues in the National Assembly to ensure special status for Lagos and promote policies to improve national economic performance and financial sector development.
Others are the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), facilitating the completion of all federal and state road projects in Lagos East, promoting ease of doing business, supporting the 5 for 5 agenda for police reform, supporting fiscal federalism and joining forces with colleagues in the National Assembly to ensure devolution of powers to the sub-national governments.
“Within the limits of our statutory mandate, this is the time to make the aged smile; empower our jobless youths; minister to the vulnerable; secure the future of brilliant indigent children and support the implementation of the ideals of our party,” he added.
The winner of the election, Abiru, will replace the late Senator Bayo Oshinowo, who died of complications from COVID-19 infection earlier this year.
