#NigeriaElections2023: Lagos LP gov candidate accuses INEC of collusion, flays irregularities

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#NigeriaElections2023: Lagos LP gov candidate accuses INEC of collusion, flays irregularities

The Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of colluding with the ruling All Progressives Congress against his party while flaying the alleged irregularities observed during the presidential and National Assembly elections held last Saturday in the state.

Rhodes said this on Monday while speaking on Arise News.

He said, “INEC has been colluding with the ruling party in Lagos State and it is really disgraceful. The moment transmission of results did not happen from the polling units, (I knew) the elections had been compromised.”

He disclosed that the elections were marred with irregularities orchestrated by the electoral body.

“In Surulere, we won there, INEC is saying that our candidate was on the ballot. All sorts of irregularities are going on with INEC right now and it is extremely shocking but we are not going to accept these results. We have all our original polling unit results.”

He also disclosed that the elections were marred with violence, victimisation of LP members and voters by the ruling party in the state.

The governorship candidate said some of the members of the party are currently hiding while some were attacked during the elections.

He, however, appreciated efforts of the Nigerian Army for stepping in.

“There have been a lot of threats to our members at the polling units, collation centres. Even the Eti-Osa Chairman is in hiding now because of the threat. In Ojo, they came in with thugs to chase our people out of the collation centre. People have been taken to custody. Some people in Eti-Osa yesterday, in front of Elegusi’s palace.

“They wanted to carry on with the manipulation to reduce our numbers. That was the end game that they had. Thankfully, the army was able to respond and came in there for our people to go back in. The army stepped in and in Alimosho as well.”

He said the threats were all across Lagos State but supporters of the party and good governance were resolute.

Rhodes said, “Despite all of these, the people came out in huge numbers.

He further described the level of security put in place by the Nigeria Police Force as unprofessional.

“A lot of situations, the police would just leave and ‘area boys’ would just come and scatter the place.

“The security apparatus of these elections needs a lot of work. They need to sit up,” he said.