The 2023 Governorship election in Lagos State was one of the toughest in the country. Even Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu spoke against the intimidation of voters in the state. Â
Indeed, aside political rivalry, the election was accompanied with numerous attacks on party supporters. Many said the election was a war.
Reports of deaths and violence frequent news headlines during the election period.
In Lagos it was thugs stopping voters from casting their ballot for their preferred candidates.
At the end, the incumbent Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, however, retained his seat as the number one citizen of Lagos State.
Although his victory has largely been attributed to intimidation, violence among other irregularities.
It leaves one with worries about how ready Nigeria is to move to another level in terms of development.
Sanwo-Olu’s Victory
In the middle of the night, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Sanwo-Olu the winner of the Lagos Governorship election.
Sanwo-Olu polled a total of 762,134 votes to defeat his closest, Labour Party, (LP) Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who polled 312,329 votes, and Dr. Olajide Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 62,449 votes.
Shortly after his victory, the APC candidate extended a hand of fellowship to the other contestants in the governorship election.
No Victor, No Vanquished
Addressing his fellow contenders, Sanwo-Olu praises them for creating a competitive political space in the state.
He condemned the issue of ethnicity raised by supporters during the electoral process.
According to him, governance should be about competence and capacity.
He said: “To all my fellow contestants, I salute your participation in this democratic process, and your contribution to creating a truly competitive political space in our dear State.
“Please remember that there is no victor, no vanquished, in the true spirit of sportsmanship.
Also Read: ‘I Will Defend Your Votes’, Rhodes-Vivour Promises Lagosians
“During the course of the campaign, we sadly saw a lot of divisive rhetoric used.
“There were those who tried to make these elections about ethnicity and religion, when in fact they should only have been about capacity, competence and experience.
Inciting Comments
“We saw hateful and hurtful ethnic profiling by fellow citizens – which is totally out of place for us as Lagosians, the proud residents of West Africa’s pre-eminent melting pot.
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“I want to recognise and salute all of the multitudes of Lagosians who refused to succumb to those who sought and still seek to divide us with their unguarded and inciting comments”.
Meanwhile, the candidate of the Labour Party has expressed concerns about the election.
he said it was marred by threats to human lives and said he would defend the votes cast in his favour.
He claims his party won the election.
