APC is represented by Fuad Laguda, LP‘s flag bearer is Adeola Adebanjo, while the PDP has Jerry Afemighie on its ticket
Three major political parties, All Progressives Party (APC), Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will today February 3, battle to fill the vacant Surulere 1 Federal Constituency.
Femi Gbajabiamila, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, who occupied the seat and seemingly made it his own, resigned from the House in June 2023 after President Bola Tinubu picked him as his Chief of Staff.
Therefore, for the first time in about 20 years, the Federal Constituency will get a representative whose name does not include “Gbajabiamila”.
Although, there are fourteen (14) candidates expected to slug it out, the battle is likely to be a three-horse race between Faud Laguda of the APC, Adeola Adebanjo of LP and Jerry Afemighie of the PDP.
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Candidates plotting to take over the Gbajabiamila’s seat include, Akinyemi Da-Sliva (Accord), Kayode Jelili (Action Alliance), Collins Aigbokhaode (African Democratic Congress); Fuad Laguda (All Progressives Congress); Jonathan Ololade (All Progressives Grand Alliance); and Samuel Ekwuruke (Allied People’s Movement).
Others are Yinusa Adisa (Action People’s Party), Adeola Adebanjo (Labour Party), Jerry Afemighie (Peoples Democratic Party); Muyiwa Adedeji (Social Democratic Party); Oluwole Austine Brito (Young Progressive Party) and Emereole Anthony (Zenith Labour Party).
Factors expected to shape the outcome of the election include:
Gbajabiamila’s Influence
Since Mr Gbajabiamila became the speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, he has been able to litter Surulere 1 Federal Constituency with projects.
The projects that were facilitated by him include roads, hospitals, schools, mini stadia and other notable developmental activities.
Few weeks ago, the Chief of Staff still commissioned several projects in the constituency and this has brought about speculations that Gbajabiamila might have won the hearts of a lot of people in the constituency for the APC candidate already.
Obident movement vs APC’s well oiled political structure in Lagos
Peter Obi, as the presidential candidate of LP was able to achieve a major upset during the February 25, 2023 election, defeating the ruling APC and causing further upsets in some federal constituencies such as Eti-Osa LGA.
He was able to energize young people who trooped out and not only challenged APC’s formidable machinery but won the election against the party’s candidate, Bola Tinubu.
However, with the former Anambra Governor not on the ballot for the re-run election, many believe the LP candidate for the House of Representatives may not be able to mobilize voters like his party did during the presidential election.
Voter apathy
Generally, voter apathy is synonymous with run-off elections in Nigeria, apart from this, voters are going to have a major challenge in the February 3 Surulere 1 Federal Constituency election due to the complicated nature of the constituency.
Surulere Local Government is divided into two Federal Constituencies, Surulere I and Surulere II. Many voters may not know where they belong and may opt to stay indoors due to the confusion.