By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The recently concluded 2023 Governorship and House of Assembly election in Kosofe Federal Constituency has revealed a new ranking and position of political parties in the area. The Labour Party (LP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have emerged as major players, proving that a giant structure is not always necessary to bring about change.
During the Presidential election, the LP defeated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) combined. However, the APC won the Senate and House of Representatives seats as LP did not field any candidates due to internal crises and legal challenges.
The House of Assembly election turnout and results in Kosofe constituency 1 proved that LP was not only interested in the presidential election and Peter Obi. The APC candidate, Hon. Sanni Ganiu Okanlawon, won with a narrow margin of 86 votes, and the result is currently being challenged by the LP candidate.
The PDP, who had held the traditional second-place position for over 24 years, lost to a structureless LP and SDP, coming in fourth place. It was surprising that LP polled about 13,000 votes in Kosofe constituency 2, despite only putting a placeholder without campaigning. Other opposition parties that fielded candidates and ran a full campaign did not fare as well.
The LP and SDP have proved several people wrong in a few months since they joined the race, showing that a giant structure is not always necessary to bring about change and change the narrative. Pending the outcome of LP petitions at the Governorship and House of Assembly election petitions Tribunal, the APC stands as the major party, followed by LP, SDP, and PDP respectively.
In the meantime, the majority of aggrieved APC members, known as the Anti-candidate group in the last general poll, have returned to the party fold. The APC State Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, emphasized the party’s supremacy while urging them to come together and foster unity in the party during the Commissioning of 80-Bed ultra Modern PHC Building, where the Anti-candidate group members were in attendance.