Intimidation cases witnessed during the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in Lagos State have caused tensions amongst state residents, other Yorubas, and the Igbo.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the election after overcoming opponents and those aiming to eliminate Bola Tinubu’s “dominance,” a former governor and President-elect.
Sanwo-Olu campaigned for re-election against Labour Party (LP) candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Abdulazeez Adeniran, who failed to create an alliance.
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Newmen has learned that Igbos in some regions have gone into panic mode following the open display of contempt for them at various polling units, PUs, throughout the state.
Following a number of complaints, elections in several areas were moved from Saturday to Sunday due to voters’ incapacity to exercise their franchise.
Many of them had been barred from voting because of a rumored plot to seize control of Lagos through Rhodes-Vivour, who has been consistently linked to Anambra State.
Thugs suspected of working for the All Progressives Congress, APC, obstructed the process at Ajah, Sangotedo, Oniru, Yaba, Okota, and Ikorodu, among other areas.
APC supporters were captured on tape instructing voters intending to thumbprint for other parties to stay indoors on Agbo-Oba street in Oshodi, among other places.
Similar violence occurred during the presidential election, however it occurred in the afternoon/evening during voting or immediately before votes were tabulated.
Despite a police curfew, criminals armed with lethal weapons went on a tour of PUs, smashing voting papers and other election supplies.
Those who ventured to oppose were persecuted, like in the instance of Mrs Jennifer Efidi.
Despite stab wounds and sutures to her face, the Surulere resident exercised her privilege.
But, the strategy used for the March 18 election was significantly different: ban non-APC voters/Igbos from the start of the process – accreditation.
Because they “looked like Igbos,” a handful of Yorubas were denied access to voting booths. Affected social media users shared their experiences.
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Igbos and their businesses are now experiencing outright threats in some locations.
Several people who live in dangerous situations say they are afraid of being attacked.
A video recorded on Sunday in the Abule Ado neighbourhood near Festac Town in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area revealed a tense street.
“If you be Igbo and they catch you outside it’s a…”, a voice said.
Nevertheless, to the chagrin of opposition members and supporters, more audiovisual footage of violent situations from Saturday’s election have emerged.
Musiliu Akinsanya, often known as MC Oluomo, the Chairman of the Lagos Parks Management Committee, humiliated LP fans over the weekend.
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The passionate APC supporter dubbed them “Obidiots,” a parody of “Obidients” (Peter Obi’s followers), claiming that the ruling party’s victory demonstrated that the state belongs to the Yoruba.
According to observers, the election highlighted the seeming animosity towards the people of the South-East based in Lagos, as many of them were disenfranchised.
Hope Odabi, a public affairs expert, told Newsmen that she was saddened by what happened and urged parties to de-escalate the situation.
“The effect of the 2023 Lagos gubernatorial election will hunt our Lagos for a long time. The result will dawn on us as we step into our various work and business spaces in the new week.
“There is no way we can look at ourselves the same way again. The blockage of Igbos from performing their civil rights, the harassment and beating of some voters were distasteful and horrific.
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“As a Nigerian born and bred in Lagos, I pray we get past this, heal from it and hopefully it doesn’t escalate to a situation that we cannot control,” the media/PR expert said.
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