Lagos by-election, 1941

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A by-election was held for the Lagos seat in the Legislative Council of Nigeria on 5 March 1941.^[1] It was required after the incumbent member Kofo Abayomi of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) resigned in order to move the United Kingdom to take up a Rhodes Scholarship in ophthalmology.^[2] Although Ernest Ikoli of the NYM was elected with 56% of the vote, the controversy caused by the election led to the eventual demise of the party.

Campaign

After Abayomi resigned both Ikoli and Samuel Akisanya ran for the NYM nomination to be the party's candidate. Akinsanya had also sought the party's candidature for the 1940 by-election,^[3] but had lost to Jibril Martin. Akinola Maja joined the contest as a third candidate at a late stage.^[4]

An internal party primary was held in which Akinsanya received 108 votes, Ikoli 60 and Akinola Maja 37.^[4] However, the NYM central committee, which had the power to review the result, chose Ikoli as the party's candidate. Although Akinsanya initially congratulated Ikoli, he later changed his mind and decided to run as an independent with the support of Nnamdi Azikiwe.^[5]

Results

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Ernest Ikoli	Nigerian Youth Movement	523	56.00
Samuel Akisanya	Independent	411	44.00
Invalid/blank votes			−
Total		934	100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tamuno^[6]

Aftermath

The controversy over the candidate selection resulted in a split in the NYM; Azikiwe left the party and was followed by several other members, eventually leading to the party being dissolved.^[7]

References

↑ Okechukwu Jones Asuzu (2005) The Politics of Being Nigerian, Lulu, p43
↑ Toyin Falola & Ann Genova (2009) Historical Dictionary of Nigeria, Scarecrow Press, p
↑ Nnamdi Azikiwe (1961) Zik: a selection from the speeches of Nnamdi Azikiwe, CUP Archive, p309
1 2 Asuzu, p215
↑ Obafemi Awolowo (1960) Awo: The Autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Cambridge University Press, pp130–160
↑ Tekena N Tamuno (1966) Nigeria and Elective Representation 1923−1947, Heinemann, p127
↑ Falola & Genova, p261

Elections in Nigeria

Presidential elections	1979 1983 1993 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015

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Senate elections	1979 1983 1992 1998 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015

Regional elections	1951 1953 1954 1956−57 1960−61 1964 British Cameroons: 1959 1961

Local elections	1950 1953

Referendums	1959 1961

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