Videos of the governorship election in Lagos on Saturday have shown multiple cases of violence and intimidation against voters in parts of Lagos.
Nigerians returned to the polls today to elect governors in 28 of the country’s 36 states. They are also electing state lawmakers in those states.
The contest is expected to be particularly keen in Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital, which has since 1999 remained under the influence of Nigeria’s now president-elect, Bola Tinubu, its former governor. Mr Tinubu played leading roles in the emergence of his successors since he left office in 2007.
The incumbent, Gov Babjide Sanwo-Olu of the APC, who is seeking a second term, is facing real threat this time from the PDP’s Olajide Adediran and the LP’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. The LP won the presidential election in Lagos and is pushing to extend its gain on Saturday.
– Violent scenes
Voters reported attacks and intimidation in parts of the state on Saturday. One man in a video, with blood on his face, said he was beaten after thugs checked and found out the party he voted for.
Actress Chioma Akpotha said she was threatened and her car damaged after she was accredited to vote. She fled the area and reported to soldiers.
At least three videos showed polling officers telling voters they would not upload election results real time as the electoral commission had assured. They said officials had not authorised them to do so.
In other videos, some men asked voters to leave polling units if they would not vote for parties they wanted, and one threatened to kill people. One video showed a man on the ground. People standing nearby said he had threatened voters and was shot. It was not clear if the man had died.
Pluboard sourced the videos from Twitter and could not independently verify the claims. The spokesperson for Inec, Festus Okoye, did not respond to a call seeking comments.
Actress Chioma Akpotha has just been attacked by APC thugs at her polling unit in Lagos. #LagosDecides2023 #NigeriaDecides2023 pic.twitter.com/3IEOrYVcs5
— Jaypee (@JaypeeGeneral) March 18, 2023
INEC officials are insisting that they will not upload the results and voters have decided not to vote in Lagos state. #VoteLabourParty Okota Alimosho Anambra Gbadebo Rhodes Thugs Kate Henshaw Seyi Law Olumide 49 SANs APC in Lagos Rivers State No LP Agberos pic.twitter.com/vOaKPMfoXS
— T. Jay (@Rich_Dawg1) March 18, 2023
Tap on the links to see the videos. Viewer discretion is advised.
https://twitter.com/Ozoadaz/status/1637040012595195906
https://twitter.com/redcap_blondie/status/1637039106562637824
https://twitter.com/chude__/status/1637016781423296513
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