Surulere bye-election: 121,111 voters to elect Gbajabiamila’s replacement, Feb 3

No fewer than 121,111 voters are expected to participate in the Surulere Federal Constituency 1 bye-election scheduled to hold this Saturday, February 3.

The number, according to the Public Affairs Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos state, Mrs Adenike Oriowo, represents 86.3 percent of the total registered voters of 140,377 in the constituency.

The House of Representatives bye-election will be held on Saturday to fill the vacancy occasioned by the appointment of the erstwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.

Gbajabiamila was elected in the 2023 general elections for the sixth term as a member of the House of Representatives representing Surulere Constituency 1.

Oriowo disclosed that candidates from twelve political parties are expected to vote in the bye-election.

The political parties and candidates are Accord Party – Hon. Akinyemi Da-Sliva Elias, Action Alliance – Comrade Kayode Jelili, African Democratic Congress – Mr. Collins Aigbokhaode, All Progressives Congress – Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, All Progressives Grand Alliance – Mr. Jonathan Ololade, and Allied People’s Movement – Mr. Samuel Uchechi Ekwuruke.

Others are Action People’s Party – Mr. Yinusa Musa Adisa, Labour Party – Engr. Adeola Adebanjo Damilola, People’s Democratic Party – Mr. Afemighie Jerry, Social Democratic Party – Mr. Muyiwa Adedeji, Young Progressives Party – Comm. Oluwole Austine Brito, and Zenith Labour Party – Mr. Emereole Anthony.

Earlier, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Professor Ayobami Salami, had assured all stakeholders of a free, fair, and credible bye-election.

He said, “I want to assure all stakeholders that on our part, we are going to adhere strictly to our guiding principles and bring to bear our core values with a view to ensuring that we midwife a process, devoid of any rancor or acrimony. Being a double-edged game, the Commission will also profoundly appreciate that the stakeholders play the game according to the established rules. The idea of ballot snatching, vote buying, and thuggery should be jettisoned.”