The Labour Party (LP) has told Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other members of APC rejoicing over declaration of their party as the winner of last Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections in Lagos that their victory is momentary.
The opposition party said this on Tuesday in Lagos while vowing that it will challenge the outcome of the election in court at a press conference addressed by its chairperson in the state, Pastor Dayo Ekong.
Ekong said that the elections witnessed huge disruptions and violence against the party’s loyalists and agents.
The chairperson, who said that the election was not free, fair and credible, expressed confidence that the judiciary would do the right thing.
“There was no credibility, fairness and it was not free. I can assure you that we will seek redress, whatever it takes for us to get justice, we will do,” Ekong said.
She said that the party would also petition INEC, the police and military on the brutal attacks on some of the LP members.
Ekong said that if the election and its associated violence were allowed to go unchallenged, it would set a bad precedent, as the nation had gone beyond such in its democratic process.
The chairperson said that violence and threats didn’t allow elections to take place in many polling units across the state.
“In some places, ballot boxes were snatched and burnt and all manner of evil things happened on that day,” she said.
Ekong called on Nigerians, especially the youth that wanted a better country, not to give up.
The chairperson, however, said it was untrue that the party was instigating violence, saying LP would never instigate anyone, especially the youths it wanted a better future for, to go into illegality.
Also, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party candidate has declared that the battle for Lagos State governorship election has not ended even with declaration of the APC candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the winner early Sunday morning.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Sanwo-Olu, who ran on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, the winner on Sunday evening.
According to the INEC, Sanwo-Olu received 762,134 votes, winning in 19 Local Government Areas to be re-elected governor in the election.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP) finished a distance second, winning in only in two LGAs where he received 312,329 votes.
Olajide Adediran, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, finished third with 62,449 votes.
Mr Rhodes-Vivour just before the announcement of the results officially claimed on Twitter that the election was marred by violence and voter disenfranchisement.
He also claimed that he is the genuine winner of the election.
He, however, did not explain how he won the election.
He said, “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 light of this, I am convinced beyond any doubt that the results being released by INEC do not represent the wishes of the 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 you” he added.
