By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Five years after the passing of Senator Adebayo Osinowo, fondly known as “Pepperito,” his absence continues to reverberate across the political landscape of Lagos East and Kosofe, where he held significant sway during his lifetime.
Osinowo, who represented the Lagos East Senatorial District until his death on June 15, 2020, following a brief illness, is remembered annually with tributes from allies, associates, and admirers. Many political actors describe the vacuum he left behind as irreplaceable, noting that both local and national political structures in the district have struggled to find the cohesion he once provided.
While some have used the vacuum created by his absence to ascend politically and economically, others maintain that Osinowo’s grassroots appeal, negotiation skills, and firm grip on party politics remain unmatched.
Lingering Political Fractures
Since his passing, political realignments and shifting loyalties have characterized Kosofe’s local politics, especially within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Many stakeholders believe that if Senator Osinowo were alive, the political impasse currently rocking the Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) would have been averted through his trademark consensus-building approach.
The latest fallout stems from the APC chairmanship primary held on May 10, 2025, where the incumbent chairman, Princess Samiat Bada, emerged as the party’s flagbearer. The result has sparked widespread dissent and opposition from a coalition of chairmanship aspirants and their supporters.
The coalition contends that Bada’s emergence constitutes a breach of democratic norms, describing her candidacy as an unconstitutional bid for a third term. They argue that her continued run flouts both the APC constitution and provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, drawing parallels with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s historic opposition to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s alleged third-term ambition.
Call for Substitution and Legal Threats
The coalition has formally petitioned the party and is demanding the immediate substitution of Bada’s name before the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) releases the final list of candidates on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
Despite the pushback, Princess Bada’s campaign has gained momentum, with posters, banners, and branded materials saturating the community. Her supporters insist her candidacy is legitimate, and they maintain that the primaries were conducted in accordance with the law and party guidelines.
The “Pepperito” Factor
Amid the heated exchanges, many residents and political observers alike continue to invoke Senator Osinowo’s name as a symbol of the leadership and unity currently missing from the local APC structure.
“Senator Osinowo would never have allowed it to get this far. He knew how to manage competing interests and build consensus,” one party elder told KosofePost Newsroom.
As the deadline for candidate validation approaches, pressure continues to mount on the APC leadership to address the crisis and restore calm within the party in Ikosi-Isheri. Yet, the absence of a central unifying figure like Osinowo looms large, making reconciliation a more daunting task.
For many in Kosofe and beyond, the legacy of “Pepperito” remains a reference point for political leadership, grassroots engagement, and pragmatic resolution — qualities that seem in short supply in the current contest.