The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency by-election, Hon. Bola Oluwole, has rejected a proposal by his All Progressives Congress (APC) rival, Hon. Adesola Elegbeji, to amend the electoral process to allow political parties to retain legislative seats in the event of a member’s death or resignation.
Elegbeji had told journalists on Thursday that political parties should be allowed to nominate a replacement without going through another election, arguing that the seat “rightfully” belongs to the winning party.
“In the nearest future, the constitution or the Electoral Act should be amended so that when this happens to a party that has legitimately won a seat, the party is allowed to appoint someone else to represent them without going through an election,” he said.
Reacting, Oluwole described the suggestion as “undemocratic, self-serving and a threat to Nigeria’s electoral values.”
“Amending the law now or later to suit a party’s convenience is like shifting the goalpost in the middle of a match. Democracy thrives on the will of the people. The fact that a party won previously does not mean that position becomes its permanent birthright,” he said.
He accused the APC candidate of attempting to bypass the democratic process and impose candidates on the electorate.
“If they truly believe they are popular, why are they afraid of a fair contest? Every seat must be contested based on competence, integrity, and capacity to deliver — not handed over like a family inheritance,” he added.
Oluwole stressed that the Constitution and Electoral Act were designed to protect the rights of the electorate, not political parties.
“This by-election is not a reward for grief; it is a duty to democracy. Let the people decide,” he said.
He urged voters in the constituency to resist attempts to manipulate the process and to use the August 16 by-election to reaffirm their democratic power.
“This is not about party politics alone. It is about protecting our democracy from those who wish to weaken it for selfish interests,” he said.
