The incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been re-elected for a second term in office, as the number one citizen of the most populous city in Africa, with a total of 762,134 votes.
Sanwo-Olu defeated Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, who scored 312,329 votes, and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, aka Jandor, who polled 62,449 votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission announced the results at the commission’s state collation centre in Yaba despite a series of condemnations that follow the conduct of the election.
Many people believed that the election was marred by voter suppression, ethnic discrimination, political thuggery, and physical attacks on voters, electoral staff, and security personnel.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, reassured Lagosians that security personnel deployed for the election were responding promptly to the cases, with “a lot of arrests” and “recoveries” made.
During his acceptance speech, shortly after INEC’s declaration, Sanwo-Olu recognized the divisive rhetoric that became commonplace in the lead-up to the polls and spoke out against identity politics.
He extended a hand of fellowship to his fellow contestants and urged Lagosians to come together to rebuild the capacity, competence, and experience of the city.
He emphasized that religion and ethnicity should not divide the people of Lagos, and the city will emerge bigger, stronger, and better.
