Lagos gov ballot a disgrace, as thugs snatched and burnt ballot boxes and papers, he says
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South West Deputy National Chairman Bode George has poured cold water on the governorship and state Assembly elections in Lagos as a disgrace to Nigeria.
The ballot was a three-horse race between Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olajide Adediran (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP), and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP).
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) state Returning Officer Adenike Oladeji, a Professor, announced on Monday that Sanwo-Olu got 762,134 votes, Rhodes-Vivour (312,329), and Adediran (62,449).
“During the presidential and National Assembly [NASS] elections on February 25, soldiers were seen on the road and there was civility. Thugs didn’t mess up. There was complete peace,” George said in a statement he personally signed.
“So, who ordered that the soldiers should be withdrawn during the governorship and House of Assembly elections? Was their withdrawal ordered to ensure that thugs had a field day, snatching and burning ballot boxes and papers?
“When are we going to be civil in our approach to constitutional democracy? This is not the Lagos we used to be proud of. This election is a total disgrace to the APC as a party and Nigeria as a country.
“Due to threats from thugs, many potential voters returned home in anger without voting. In many polling units, we watched videos of the snatching of ballot boxes/papers by APC thugs. Ballot boxes and papers were also burnt.”
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GRV, Jandor, Sanwo-Olu lock horns in an ethnically-charged race for Lagos
PDP accuses APC of burning Lagos market to intimidate opponents
Falz insists Sawo-Olu ‘selected’ himself not ‘re-elected’ by Lagosians
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Rhodes-Vivour rejects election result
Rhodes-Vivour, who was endorsed by George, has also expressed dissatisfaction with the result, saying it does not reflect the wishes of voters.
“I am saddened by the confirmed reports of violence and gross disenfranchisement of voters who only wished to perform their civic duty,” he wrote on Twitter on Sunday, per reporting by The PUNCH.
“Attacks on polling units, voters, and our party agents are totally antithetical to what we stand for and what Lagos truly represents.
“Collusion between the ruling party and electoral officials to return the candidate of the APC is a slap on the face of democracy and everyone who came out to vote for us on Saturday.
“In light of this, I am convinced beyond any doubt that the results being released by INEC do not represent the wishes of the majority of peaceful Lagosians.
“More so, the results from our field agents and situation room indicated that we won this election. I am a champion of the people. We are far from done. Do not lose hope, do not waiver.
“This is not over, we have not come this far to accept outright lies, criminality and falsehoods. A fight for freedom is never easily won.
“Every vote cast for me was done in the face of intimidation and risk of personal harm. Every such vote must count. Defending every one of those votes is a sacred duty. I will defend your votes – this is my vow to every LP voter.”