INEC declares Babajide Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos governorship poll, opposition kicks
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Monday, March 20, 2022, declared Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as winner of the state’s governorship election held on Saturday, March 19, 2023.
The State’s Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, FUTA, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, declared Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner at 1:19 am on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Oladiji said Sanwo-Olu polled 762,134 votes while his closest rival Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party polled votes and Olajide Adediran of the PDP polled 62,449 votes.
In a poll marred by widespread report of violence, voters’ suppression and ethnic tension, the Lagos State Police Commissioner Idowu Owohunwa claimed the reports of violence were blown out of proportion.
“It is true that we’ve recorded instances of violence in some areas in the state, but the reality is that they are not as widespread as to affect the general dynamics of the (electoral) process. But unfortunately, as typical of social media, once its flashed, it goes viral and alters the general perception,” Owohunwa said in an interview with Channels TV on Saturday. “Most of those instances were promptly attended to by the Police.”
Meanwhile, Dayo Ekong, the Chairperson of Labour Party in Lagos while rejecting the results of the election at the collation centre on Sunday night, described the poll as a sham.
“This election is a sham. It was marred by violence, we reported and nothing was done,” Ekong said after reciting the second stanza of the National Anthem. “Mr Agbaje (INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner) you have failed the youths and the masses.”
She alleged that voters were killed and disenfranchised during the election on Saturday.
Neusroom could not immediately verify Ekong’s claims.
