Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour Candidate of the Labour Party in the Lagos State Governorship election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has expressed sadness over the outcome of the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu as the winner of the Lagos State gubernatorial election.
The Round Table had reported that Governor Sanwoolu scored 762,134 votes to defeat Gbadebo Rhodes--Vivour who polled 312,329 to come distance second and Jide Adeniran who polled 62,449 votes to come very distance third.
In his speech after the declaration of the winner, the first runner-up, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour discredited the election base on an alleged violence and intimidation against his supporters. He claimed that the election was not free and fair as insisted that every vote cast for him was done in the "face of intimidation and risk of personal harm.
Gbadebo disclosed that the result announced by INEC did not tally with the result from his party's situation room, which he claimed out him on the edge of victory.
Gbadebo floored the performance of the electoral umpire with allegation that they connive with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the election.
Following the tone of his protest speech, it is more like for him to challenge the outcome of the Lagos State Governorship elect at the tribunal and up to the Supreme Court.
Gbadebo's protest speech read in parts:
"Firstly, I would like to thank all Lagosians, especially our supporters for coming out to vote yesterday for us. I’m convinced that with you in our corner, a NEW Nigeria is imminent.
"However, I am saddened by the confirmed reports of violence and gross disenfranchisement of voters who only wished to perform their civic duty.
"Attacks on polling units, voters, and our party agents are totally antithetical to what we stand for & 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 the light of this, I am convinced beyond any doubt that the results being released by INEC do not represent the wishes of 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 waver.
"This is not over, we have not come this far to accept outright lies, criminality & 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.
Category: Forum
Tag: Lagos governorship election results
Written by Ejiro Hassan (ejiro)
Published 3/20/2023 8:25:05 AM