PRESS RELEASE

Afenifere has observed the result of the Presidential elections in Lagos. This result has confirmed the returns from our LGA Chairmen in all the 20 LGAs in Lagos, confirming that Peter Obi has emerged victorious at the polls in Lagos. This, in spite of the suppression of votes and the violence clearly intended to deter perceived potential supporters of the rainbow coalition which had adopted Obi as their joint candidate, from being able to cast their votes.

Many of this grouping of supporters were prevented from voting. There was lack of diligence on the part of INEC officials, who connived with the ruling party’s leaders in many local governments by refusing to upload the election results at polling units, claiming the same BVAS appliance which had successfully accredited voters, suddenly became inoperable in loading the results.

We thank all Lagosians and all residents of Lagos State who trooped out en masseto perform their civic duty by voting. We have however been inundated with reports of violence in some parts of Lagos, targeted at Igbos. Yorubas are an urbane, accommodating ethnic group that will always eschew violence in expressing democratic preferences. All of us in Lagos must appreciate the fact that the expression of our democratic choice in exercising our franchise is not an act of ethnic warfare.

We implore Lagos residents to ignore provocative posts on social media, many enabled by agent provocateurs, and aimed at fanning the embers of disunity among peace-loving residents and intended to pitch the Yorubas against Igbos. Igbos voted for Bola Tinubu in states in the Southeast, in the same way that many Yoruba elected to vote for Obi in Lagos and other states in the Southwest.

We welcome the statement from the APC Presidential Council enjoining Lagosians not to resort to acts of violence. We also call on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to address the residents of Lagos State and join hands with Afenifere to assure all residents of the protection of their lives and property.

Furthermore, we request that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State uphold the rule of law and ensure the protection of all residents and visitors in Lagos.

Signed: 

Supo Shonibare

Afenifere Leader, Lagos State.