‘Voter suppression’ | ‘Bad losers’ — LP, APC trade words over attacks in Lagos

The Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have traded words over the attacks on voters in Lagos state.

Attacks were recorded in various parts of the state during the governorship and state house of assembly elections on Saturday.

In a Twitter post, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos, Rodes-Vivour alleged intimation of voters across the state and accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police of complicity.

“From all over Lagos, we are getting distressing reports of voter intimation, voter suppression. The worrying thing about this is that INEC and the police have shown to be complicit in this,” he said.

“The reason why we are doing this video is because it is important that INEC and the police realise that they are provoking Lagasions right now.

“INEC still has hours to do the right thing. With the help of security agencies, the commission will be able to calm down a lot of things. A lot of areas are still under intense attacks by thugs and hooligans of the APC.

“I call on INEC, most especially, and the police not to set Lagos on fire. This is a state that houses 22 million people. Having that many people angry because of being disenfranchised is not something Nigeria needs now.

“So, I call on INEC REC and everybody involved in this election to make sure they do the right thing and create at least the perception and the actuality of a free and fair election.”

A peaceful democratic process has been turned into war by the ruling party because people want to express their choice
The point of governance is to preserve and protect lives, not take them.

Don’t despair, we are stronger than them. pic.twitter.com/5ba8yadI6Q

— Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (@GRVlagos) March 18, 2023

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TheCable had earlier reported how the LP governorship candidate lost his polling unit to Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC.

Reacting to the development in a statement, Seye Oladejo, spokesperson of the APC in Lagos, described the LP as “bad losers”.

“This scaremongering is typical of bad losers who lack the spirit of sportsmanship. The security agencies should note Mr Rhodes-Vivour’s threat to set Lagos on fire as his predilection for violence and warmongering is well known to Nigerians,” the statement reads.

“Should there be any breakdown of law and order in any part of our state, law enforcement agencies should know who to grab – Mr Rhodes-Vivour.

“We are compiling reports of how APC supporters were harassed and attacked today. Some of the reports are really scary. Now the LP candidate is playing the victim. This old trick won’t work; discerning Lagosians know they are all lies deployed to attract sympathy.

“Our party has no need to be violent because we are sure of the glittering credentials of our candidate Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu who will never be associated with violence.

“We advise LP and its candidate to embrace peace instead of threatening to bring down the roof on everybody. It won’t work.”