Nigerian musician and politician, Mr Bankole Wellington has once again lost the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat.
Not to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but to a ‘strange’ Labour Party candidate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, 26th February, declared Labour party’s candidate, Thaddeus Attah, the winner of the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
According to Prof Funmilayo Odukoya, who is the INEC Returning Officer, Attah polled a total of 24,075 votes to defeat his main rival, entertainer, Olubankole Wellington aka Banky W of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who gathered 18,666 votes, and Mr Babjide Obanikoro of the APC, who had 16, 901 votes.
In 2019 Mr Bankole Wellington of the Modern Democratic Party (MDP) lost to Babajide Obanikoro of the All Progressives Congress (APC). That was also his first attempt in politics.
MDP, which was founded in 2017 by some youth associations, is led by Bukunyi Olateru-Olagbegi, a 27-year-old youth activist and entrepreneur.
He faced many criticism on why he didn’t contest from Ebute-Metta where he grew up but Eti-Osa, but Banky defiled all odds and nearly won the election.
Many said he was rigged out, others said he lost due to party.
Writing on Instagram, his post read, “Soooo grateful for everyone who has believed in our movement to give us a chance.
“We have worked. We are top 3, and we earned every single vote we got. We will sustain the momentum and continue building this movement. We are not finished, we’re just getting started.”
In 2022, Mr Wellington announced he will be running again, but under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was also a painstaking win as the election had to be conducted twice after the other PDP contestant cried fowl. Banky won twice.
Obanikoro on the other end, lost his election but was told he can run, and the winner should step down.
Not sure that went that well with APC members as Banky W’s banners were reportedly sitting comfortable at were it wouldn’t on a ‘normal opposition day’.
Babajide Obanikoro, the first son of a former minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, of the APC and Omotesho Bakare of the PDP.
The Peter Obi factor seems to have brought in the third force Nigerians have been craving for – a restructuring of all structures.
Also, the New Nigeria builders are not interested in anything APC or PDP, so why Mr Bankole Lost this election is so obvious – on the wrong side again.
