[1] It was required after the incumbent member Kofo Abayomi of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) resigned in order to move to the United Kingdom to take up a Rhodes Scholarship in ophthalmology.
After Abayomi resigned both Ikoli and Samuel Akisanya ran for the NYM nomination to be the party's candidate.
[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.