Let Us Maintain the Peaceful Momentum in Surulere, Vote for Your Candidate Not Violence

By Taiwo Olapade

In less than twelve hours, members of the ruling All Progressives Congress across the country will converge at different polling wards to elect the party’s candidates for the State House of Assembly seats ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Already, primary elections have been conducted for the House of Representatives and Senatorial seats that make up the nation’s highest legislative arm of government, the National Assembly.

However, the exercise, though relatively peaceful, was not without incidents of violence in some states over disagreements with the results declared by the electoral committees.

Here in Lagos, the State House of Assembly is made up of 40 seats, but surprisingly, close to 200 members of the ruling APC are aspiring to represent their various constituencies in the forthcoming 11th Assembly.

Permit me to narrow down this discourse to Surulere Constituency, where I reside as a stakeholder who is deeply concerned about developments in the build-up to the primary election.

For Surulere Constituency I, it is a two-horse race between the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Desmond Olushola Elliott, who believes in consolidating on his years of service to the constituents, and Barr. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who is riding on the call for fresh ideas with the mantra of transparency, accountability, development and hope. Four other aspirants have withdrawn from the race and declared support for Barr. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare.

Surulere Constituency II has the likes of Damilola Ayinde Mashal, Kelvin Adeyemi Adeshina, Ahmed Apatira, Ope Silva and Funke Anibabanle vying for the ticket.

The reality in every contest is that two winners cannot emerge at the same time, but there will be little room for disagreement if the process that produces the winner is seen by the overwhelming majority as free, fair, just, credible and transparent.

The major challenge confronting political parties in the country today is the lack of internal democracy, which is fast creating divisions and camps among members of the same party. Regrettably, politicians across the board often disregard the same rules and principles they once agreed to abide by for selfish reasons. Yet, when the table turns against them, they are the first to cry marginalisation and become ready to destroy the system.

In the build-up to the APC primaries, President Bola Tinubu appealed to party leaders and aspirants to play by the rules. He further stated, and I quote: “I am aware that, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act (2026) and our party’s constitution, leaders at various levels have initiated conversations to produce consensus candidates. It is a commendable option that would help in reducing rancour and bad blood among party members. I note the impressive progress made in this regard and encourage fellow party members to make the most of this window to ensure a seamless process and a more unified party.” End quote.

The President equally pointed out that elections are not a do-or-die affair but an essential ingredient of democracy, adding that where consensus fails, all aspirants must proceed into the primaries as members of one big family.

I hope that the electoral committee of the ruling party has taken cognisance of some of the shortcomings that played out during the National Assembly primaries, including the late arrival of officials or their non-appearance in some polling wards, as well as the confusion created over whether it was the party’s slip or other forms of identification that members should present before being allowed to participate.

Finally, I want to strongly appeal to all House of Assembly aspirants in Surulere Constituencies I and II, members of the ruling party, and residents at large to sustain the peaceful coexistence in the area and shun all forms of violence that could lead to a breakdown of law and order and put Surulere, the Sports City, in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Remember, if you do not win today, you can always stage a comeback and win another day.

—Taiwo Olapade, a broadcast journalist, writes from Lagos.