The gubernatorial elections have been fought and won, with just a few states remaining before the winners are announced.
Saturday’s elections were conducted in 28 of the 36 states, amid reports of violence. Almost all the results from the states have been announced. Babajide Sanwo-Olu the ruling All Progressive Congress beat his closest rival, Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour of the Labour Party to secure a second term as governor of Lagos state. The ruling party won most states to consolidate their hold
Although, there are reports of hoodlums attacking some polling stations and snatching ballot boxes and papers. Voters in most parts complain of intimidation and threats within their locality. The elections were marred by ethnic tensions among supporters of the main candidates. Voters of certain ethnic groups allege attacks on their persons and discrimination.
These attacks occurred in most states of the federation: states like Lagos, Delta, Sokoto, Rivers recorded high level of electoral violence, despite the efforts of the police.
In some states like Akwa Ibom, voters and observers alike have described the event as ‘total warfare,’ and are calling for cancellation of the results of the polls. The general polls have been trailed by allegations of irregularities, not just among party agents and their supporters but also against the electoral body, the independent national electoral commission, inec, which has been accused of complicity with the ruling party to rig the elections.
The ruling party won most states; Ogun, Yobe, Katsina, Gombe, Ondo, to name a few, the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was able to get a few states, among which are; Oyo and Osun where though, no governorship election was held, but the PDP, won virtually all the state houses of assembly.
In Abia State, the tussle is still on-going between the PDP and the Labour Party. Reports trickling in suggest that Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party has clinched 16 of the 17 local government areas. However, some members of LP are alleging vote manipulation by the PDP, that has led the states for years. The result from the 17th local government, considered to be one of the largest in the state, is still being expected. It is expected that Alex Otti will emerge the winner, but it remains to be seen how events play out.
Generally, the election was marred by low turn out of voters. Most people were no longer interested and had lost confidence in the electoral process after the February 25, presidential election, which many alleged was manipulated in favour of the candidate of the ruling party, Bola Tinubu.
Nigerians claim that the outcome of the presidential election did not reflect the true feelings of the people who thronged out in their numbers on the day to vote for the candidate of their choice.
The Presidential election alleged to be rigged, is still being contested in the court by the Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
The LP has described as ‘flawed’, the electoral process which led to the emergence of Bola Tinubu of the ruling APC as the president-elect.
Meanwhile, The Labour Party Governorship candidate in Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has rejected the declaration of his opponent of the ruling APC, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the winner of the the March 18 governorship election in the state claiming that what transpired on Saturday was far from democracy, but Agberocracy.
“Elections are meant to be a democracy for the people, by the people and of the people. What we saw yesterday (March 18) was Agberocracy, thuggery, hooliganism at its finest, a government by the thugs, for thugs and by the thugs, and this cannot be acceptable. It is a wrong precedent to set because the next time people want to participate in elections, they will believe it must be violent, it must be war. And Lagos deserves so much more than that. There is no government that should be maiming its citizens in an aspiration to lead the same people,” he said.