The Resident Electoral Commission (REC) of Lagos State, Olusegun Agbaje, has advised the losers and aggrieved parties in the 2023 Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections to restrategize for another time, as the commission would continue to create a level playing field for all those who aspire to take part in any election in Nigeria. Agbaje gave the advice at the presentation of Certificates of Return to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and other winners of the March 18 Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in Lagos.
Hordes of armed security personnel comprising the Nigeria Police Rapid Response Squad, men of the Department of State Service, DSS, and Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps, LNSC, were seen on Monday, taking over the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and environs on Thursday, at Birell Avenue, Sabo, Yaba, Mainland Local Government Area of the state in preparation for the presentation of Certificates of Return to the reelected Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Governor-Elect, Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and 40 members-elect of the State House of Assembly won the just concluded Gubernatorial and 40 members of the House of Assembly elections in the state.
According to one of the security men who preferred anonymity, the heavy presence of the security was aimed at curtailing any possible unrest, unruly, and indiscipline acts by the public.
The APC party faithful were seen chanting various victory songs outside the INEC office. Recall that the gubernatorial election was held on March 18, in which Governor Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressive Congress, APC, emerged as the winner with over 700,000 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party who polled over 300,000 votes, while Dr Olajide Adeniran, popularly called Jandor of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, came distant third with about 75,000 votes.
Meanwhile, Rhodes-Vivour has secured a court order to inspect electoral materials used during the election as he challenges the victory of Governor Sanwo-Olu.
Agbaje, in his speech, urged the political class to change its “do or die” attitude to good conduct in politics. He also advised the winners to be magnanimous in victory by having an open hand approach to all Lagosians and other residents of the state. Agbaje commended all stakeholders for their various roles played in collaboration with the commission during the period of the conduct of the election.
In his address, the Supervising National Commissioner, Mr Sam Olumekun, also handed over the Certificates of Return to the Governor-Elect and the Deputy Governor-Elect, and later to winners of the State House of Assembly election.
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