Lagos By-Election: Why I haven't called my opponent to concede defeat - PDP candidate

Mr Babatope Akinyele, Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last Saturday’s Ifako/Ijaiye Federal Constituency by-election in Lagos, has accepted defeat.

Akinyele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the poll was credible, blaming PDP’s defeat on divisions and rancour in the party.

NAN reports that Mr Nurudeen Akinwunmi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the poll, which resulted from the death of Mr Elijah Adewale, who represented the constituency in the House of Representatives.

Adewale died in Abuja on July 20.

According to Akinyele, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was neutral in the poll.

“There is no reason I should not congratulate the winner. If I have Akinwunmi’s phone contact, I would have called him.

“Our politics should be devoid of violence and should not be a do-or-die affair, if we want to ever achieve our dream of a better Nigeria,” Akinyele said.