Lagos East Senatorial Bye-Election:Tokunbo Abiru in pole position to replace Osinowo

Barring any last minute changes, Polaris Bank’s managing director, Tokunbo Abiru is set to become the next senator representing Lagos East,City news has learnt.

According to City News sources,Abiru an ally of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged favourite to replace late Senator Bayo Oshinowo who died of Covi9-19 related illness some weeks ago as the senator representing Lagos East Senatorial district.

CN sources also hinted that Lagos chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally agreed on the choice of Tokunbo Abiru, a former Commissioner for Finance in the state as a replacement for the late Senator Bayo Osinowo, who represented Lagos East senatorial district and the party has also told some aspirants to step down for the banker ahead of the bye-election.

Abiru who denied reports of his readiness to clinch the senatorial seat after news to the contrary filtered out three weeks ago has,according to sources,started making high-level consultations on how to play politics at top level in order to settle in the senate as soon as he’s voted in on 31st October which has been slated by INEC for the bye-election.

Born in 1964, Abiru, a key loyalist of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is the current Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) o of Polaris Bank.
The Economics graduate from Lagos State University, served during the tenure of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, now Minister of Works and Housing.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). Also, an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
During Abiru’s time as Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State floated a successful N80 billion bond. He further instigated discussions on taxation in Lagos State after the discovery of over 5.5 million tax evaders in 2013.

He resigned his appointment as Commissioner in 2013, to take up an executive role in First Bank Nigeria Ltd before becoming the managing director of Skye Bank(now Polaris bank).