* Vows to formally challenge outcome
The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has spurned the outcome of the March 18 governorship election in the State does not represent “the wishes of a majority of peaceful Lagosians”.
Rhodes-Vivour, who said the governorship election was marred by violence and gross disenfranchisement of voters, vowed to challenge the outcome of the poll.
The LP standard-bearer alleged that the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) colluded with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the results of the election in favour of the party’s candidate, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who sought re-election.
He added that the results from the Labour Party’s field agents and situation room indicated that he won the governorship election.
Although INEC had yet to declare a winner in the gubernatorial as of the time of this report, the official results from the 20 local government collation centres showed that Sanwo-Olu polled 739,526 votes, while Rhodes-Vivour came second with 296,832 votes.
However, the LP governorship candidate, in a series of tweets on his Twitter account, vowed to challenge the outcome of the election.
Rhodes-Vivour stated: “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 and 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,” the LP candidate said.