In the March 18 Lagos gubernatorial election, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected to face opposition from the Labour Party, or LP.
On March 20, Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was proclaimed the winner and the new governor by the Independent National Election Commission, INEC.
With 762,134 votes, the incumbent defeated the LP’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who received 312,329 votes. Olajide Adediran received 62,449 votes for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the Returning Officer’s announcement, Federal University of Technology Akure Vice Chancellor Prof. Adenike Temifayo-Oladiji reported that there were 1,182,620 accredited voters, 1,173,631 votes were cast, and 17,953 ballots were rejected.
The animosity leading up to the election reached a climax when APC supporters disenfranchised Igbos and Yorubas who “looked like” Igbos on voting day.
After harassment, intimidation, and violent activities involving the use of deadly weapons, thousands of individuals were unable to cast ballots in several units around the state.
Dayo Ekong, the chairman of the Lagos branch of the Labour Party, complained about voting restrictions in Alimosho, Eti-Osa, and Ibeju-Lekki before the declaration.
“About 1,000 units have yielded no results. People lost their rights; people perished. This election is fraudulent. A violent election was ruined!
“I’m here to let you know, Mr. Gbaje, that as the REC, you’ve failed the youngsters. You have let the majority down, and you have not acted morally, she said.
In his statements, Rhodes-Vivour, aka GRV, accused the APC and election authorities of “collusion” in an effort to re-elect Governor Sanwo-Olu.
READ ALSO: 2023 election: DSS must detain Fani-Kayode for making incendiary remarks —Atiku
The majority of calm Lagosians do not agree with the results that INEC is releasing.
“Our situation room and agent findings showed that we prevailed,” he added.
The candidate and his party are currently making their way to court to challenge INEC’s decision.
A close aide to Rhodes-Vivour stated that preparations are being made to submit a petition to the Governorship Election Tribunal.
The source said to Obasanjonews24 on Sunday evening, “We are going to the tribunal, and we are currently filing the brief.”
Both the LP and GRV must demonstrate how supporters of GRV were prevented from casting ballots for them and if the loss of those votes contributed to their defeat.
However, neither the PDP nor its candidate, a.k.a. Jandor, have made many statements regarding the next step after polling at less than 10% of the total. Olu’s
When questioned about the likelihood of legal action, PDP Chairman in Lagos Philip Aivoji kept quiet.
The former Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, and Tourism answered, “Please question the candidate; I don’t want to comment on that.”
Hakeem Amode, spokesperson for the Jandor campaign and PDP publicity secretary, did not return calls or texts on Sunday.
Judge M. B. Dongban-Mensem, the president of the Court of Appeal, established the tribunal in Lagos before the start of the general elections.
The Rosaline Omotoso Courthouse in Ikeja has been accepted as the site by Justice Kazeem O. Alogba, the Chief Judge of Lagos State.
