The Labour Party, LP, is prepared to dispute the win of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the March 18 Lagos gubernatorial election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on March 20, declared Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner and Governor-elect.
The incumbent received 762,134 votes, beating Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the LP who earned 312,329. Olajide Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, earned 62,449 votes.
The results presented by the Returning Officer, Prof Adenike Temifayo-Oladiji, VC, the Federal University of Technology Akure, indicate 1,182,620 accredited voters, 1,173,631 ballots cast, and 17,953 rejected.
The animosity before the ballot culminated when, on voting day, supporters of the APC, disenfranchised Igbos, as well as Yorubas who “look like” Igbos.
Thousands of citizens could not vote in several units around the state following harassment, intimidation, and violent activities that entailed the use of hazardous weapons.
Before the announcement, LP Chairman in Lagos, Dayo Ekong lamented how people were barred from voting in Alimosho, Eti-Osa, and Ibeju-Lekki, among other Local Governments.
“There are no results from over 1,000 units. People died…people were disenfranchised. This election is a sham…an election marked by violence!
“I want to tell you, Mr Gbaje, the REC, that you have failed the youths. You have failed the public, and you have not done the right thing,” she stressed.
In his statements, Rhodes-Vivour, alias GRV accused of “collusion” between the APC and election authorities in attempts to reinstall Governor Sanwo-Olu.
“The results being released by INEC do not represent the wishes of the majority of peaceful Lagosians…findings from our agents and situation room suggested that we won,” he said.
The candidate and his party are now heading to the court, seeking to upturn INEC’s decision.
One of Rhodes-Vivour’s close aides stated that arrangements are being prepared to launch a petition before the Governorship Election Tribunal.
“We are heading to the tribunal, we are currently filing the brief,” the insider told reporters on Sunday night.
The LP and GRV are required to establish how supporters were blocked from voting for GRV and if the loss of those ballots affected their defeat.
However, after polling less than 10 per cent of Sanwo-Olu’s tally, neither the PDP nor its candidate a.k.a. Jandor has spoken anything about the next step.
PDP Chairman in Lagos, Philip Aivoji kept tight lips when asked to talk about the prospect of legal action.
“Please ask the candidate, I don’t want to comment on it”, answered the ex-Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
PDP Publicity Secretary/Jandor Campaign spokesman Hakeem Amode did not accept calls or react to a text message on Sunday.
The tribunal in Lagos was created before the commencement of the general elections by Court of Appeal President, Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem.
The Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem O. Alogba has authorised the use of Rosaline Omotoso Courthouse in Ikeja as the venue.
