Lagos, Nigeria
The Sunday Review
—
Nigerians Voting began on Saturday in delayed governorship polls, weeks after a controversial and disputed presidential election – amid reports of electoral violence and voter disenfranchisement.
party A government official was gunned down and murdered in Lagos Saturday during the elections for Nigeria’s new state governors.
“From all over Lagos we are getting distressing reports of voter intimidation, voter suppression. One of our agents was shot and he is dead,” Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour is running as Labour candidate to As governor of Lagos, in Video statement
Festus Okoye, spokesperson for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), told The Sunday Review. “We are collating and harvesting reports from the different states of the federation before we can take a decision.”
On Saturday, reports of disenfranchisement were still being reported as Victoria Garden City is home to approximately 6000 residents in Lagos claimed that their polling station was moved out of the gated compound without their permission and that electoral staff had left before any resident cast a vote. vote.
This will decide the winner of the gubernatorial contest. in 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states as The ruling party scrambles to regain lost ground in key states.
But all eyes will be on the tense contest for control of the country’s wealthy Lagos State.
“This may be the most competitive governorship election in Lagos State,” political analyst Sam Amadi tells The Sunday Review.”Many have tried to Upturn Lagos in Bola Tinubu’s enduring power has made the past unfortunate. His influence as President-elect may have increased in Lagos but the Obidients are strong,” Amadi says, speaking of supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
It shocked the world when Obi revealed that he had defeated Bola Tinubu for President. in His Lagos home ground, but he placed third in The Presidential Poll.
Obi rejected Tinubu’s victory He is disputing the results in Courts.
Widely criticized were the widespread delays and violence that erupted during presidential elections held on February 25, as well as attempts to suppress voter turnout.
Many observers, including those from the European Union, said that the election was not up to expectations. “lacked transparency.”
The battle for Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub and one of Africa’s largest cities has typically been a two-party Race that was never won by the opposition
It is partially credited to Bola Tinubu was a politician and godfather. to Have handpicked each Lagos governor since I left office in 2007.
Tinubu’s firm grip on Lagos politics now faces an unprecedented threat in Obi’s third-force Labor Party, after losing on home turf.
Obi, the first candidate for the presidency from the opposition to Win in Lagos.
Amadi believes his popularity among young people could be the key to changing things in The Lagos governornatorial election.
“They (Obidients) won Lagos in the last (presidential) poll but feel cheated and suppressed. So we might see a more vehement fight. It depends on how motivated and aggrieved the Obidients feel now,” He said.
Fifteen candidates You are looking to Retire the Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu ruling All Progressives Congress partyThe candidate for a second term. However, only two of them are considered. as Actual threats to His reelection.
Considered a long shot only a few weeks ago, Labor Party’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is now riding on Obi’s wave and has gained momentum following his party’s surprise win in Tinubu’s stronghold,
The People’s Democratic Party’s Azeez Olajide Adediran, also known as Jandor is another contender for aiming. to For his sake, clinch the Lagos Seat party For the first time.
Adediran’s party That polled second in Everywhere governorship vote in Lagos: Since the return to civilian rule in 1999.
The Sunday Review is told by both men they believe in winning. “For the first time, PDP is going to take Lagos, and I’m going to be the governor,” Adediran. “People are really tired … the streets of Lagos are yearning for a breath of fresh air and that is what we represent,” He continues.
Rhodes-Vivour shared the news with The Sunday Review. to Liberate Lagos “state capture” has come, and he’s next in Line to You must govern your state.
“I’m next governor of Lagos state,” he declared. “You cannot stop an idea whose time has come. The idea of a new Lagos … that is powered by the people and works for the people as opposed to state capture; that idea, its time has come and no matter what they do, they can’t stop it. That’s where the confidence comes from.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu surveyed voters to Re-elect him for his accomplishments, which he boasts have made it possible. “significant progress” to Lagos and his admirable handling of COVID Pandemic.
The governor is a failure to Help pacify troubled young people accuse him You can play a role in The shooting of peaceful protesters who were railing against the brutality of police in 2020 by Nigerian Soldiers
Sanwo-Olu admitted to The Sunday Review The footage was taken at the same time as protesters, but it has been denied that uniformed soldiers were involved in the shooting.
The Sunday Review is told by Analyst Amadi about the results of the gubernatorial election poll. in Lagos is going to be about retaining the older guard or getting rid of them.
“Lagos is a fight between status quo and change,” Amadi said.
“The incumbent Sanwo-Olu has a good chance of holding his job. But he faces a serious challenge from Gbadebo (Rhodes-Vivour) who has the momentum (of the Obi wave). Jandor (Adediran) is left behind because PDP had been dismantled in southern Nigeria and has no enthusiasm factor in Lagos,” Amadi said.
“Sanwo-Olu has not been spectacular but is believed to have performed well in some aspects of keeping Lagos going. He may survive the popular revolt on Saturday … but watch out for an upset if the scaremongering of APC and the loss of trust in INEC’s integrity do not demotivate the young voters,” He concluded.
Apart from attempts to suppress the voter, widespread loss of confidence in the electoral body’s ability to conduct credible elections has eroded the electorate’s trust in Democracy.
Only 26% of Nigeria’s more than 93 million registered voters turned up to vote in The last election. It was lower than in the 2018 poll, when only a third registered voters voted.
David Ayodele from civic group EiE Nigeria informs The Sunday Review of the February 25th election “deepened the trust deficit between the (electoral) commission and the electorates.”
Ayodele encouraged the electoral body to It can be redeemed in The weekend poll by “naming and prosecuting INEC officials who were caught tampering with the electoral process.”
Lagos Police authorities stated last month that they are investigating an audio clip, in These two men threatened residents in a nearby community with violence. to vote For candidates for the ruling APC, or be evicted.
Local time, polls will be open by 8:30 a.m. (or 3:30 a.m. ET) ET Saturday, and will open at 8:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. GMT). to Closes at 2:30 PM (9:30 AM). ET).
