…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media.
Following Femi Gbajabiamila’s appointment as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, his position as a member representing Surulere Federal Constituency 1 has been declared vacant.
Gbajabiamila submitted his resignation letter to the House on June 14, 2023, and the seat has remained unoccupied.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to announce the date for the Surulere Federal Constituency 1 bye-election.
Contestants from Various Parties Emerge:
Multiple candidates from different political parties have expressed their interest in contesting for the vacant seat.
Within the All Progressive Congress (APC), three members have shown interest: Agboola Dabiri, former acting Chairman of Surulere Local Government; Hon. Kabir Lawal, a two-term former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly; and Fuad Laguda, the current chairman of the APC in Surulere Local Government Area.
It was reported that a mock primary was conducted among these candidates, resulting in Laguda being chosen as the candidate.
However, the APC spokesperson denied the existence of a mock primary, stating that the party will follow due process and hold a proper primary when INEC sets a date for the bye-election.
Other parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), also have aspirants vying for the seat.
The PDP intends to await INEC’s directive to determine the date for its primary election.
The party aims to field a candidate who will bring new ideas and provide alternatives to the long-standing representation in the constituency.
The Labour Party, too, is contesting for the seat and will encourage multiple aspirants to participate.
They emphasize their commitment to youth empowerment and promise to deliver a candidate capable of making a positive impact across party lines.
Electoral Process and INEC’s Role:
While candidates express their interest and parties prepare for the elections, the INEC’s role is crucial.
The Lagos INEC office awaits directives from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja regarding the bye-election.
Tadese Adenike, the HOD Voter Education and Publicity, confirmed that the state INEC is still awaiting instructions from the national headquarters.
Conclusion:
With Femi Gbajabiamila vacating his seat as a member representing Surulere Federal Constituency 1, the constituency prepares for a bye-election.
Aspirants from various political parties, including the APC, PDP, and LP, have expressed their interest in contesting for the vacant seat.
The parties have different approaches to candidate selection, with the APC claiming a mock primary resulted in Fuad Laguda’s nomination, while the PDP and LP are waiting for INEC’s directives to conduct their primaries.
The INEC’s headquarters in Abuja holds the key to the next steps in organizing the bye-election, as the Lagos INEC office awaits their instructions.