Reacting to claims by the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour that he won the March 18th election, the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) has described the eventual outcome of the poll as a true reflection of Lagosians’ preference.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) APC’s candidate and the incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu polled 762,134 votes to roundly defeat GRV who had 312,329 votes.
The ruling party, in a press statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, urged GRV to desist from his characteristic acts capable of igniting chaos and anarchy in the state.
The party emphasised that the outcome of the poll is a realistic and actual reflection of the preference of the voters in the state.
It also noted that APC’s victory at the poll was an attestation to the compassionate and committed leadership that Sanwo-Olu’s administration has shown since he assumed office.
The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the now familiar lamentation and hallucination of the Lagos State Labour Party governorship candidate, Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour about winning the March 18 election.
“While we empathize with the budding politician on the dazing and dizzying impact of the defeat, it is advisable for him to desist from acts that are capable of disrupting the peace of the state.
“He threatened to make the state ungovernable if the election results did not favour his warped imagination. There is no doubt that his disposition to anarchy is not representative of the position of true and well-meaning Lagosians. That is not who we are.
“The results of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections are the realistic and true reflection of the preference of the electorate.
“It was a referendum on the remarkable achievements of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team who excelled in the face of daunting odds.
“It was a vote for tested, trusted, compassionate and committed leadership rather than an infantile and needless experiment that was bound to set our state back.
“Lagosians spoke eloquently and loudly for a candidate who understands their expectations with the institutional experience to move our state forward.”
The party, however, advised GRV to put the experience he had acquired from his four previous electoral losses to use at the moment and be gracious in defeat rather than being a bad loser as it went on to appreciate the electorate for reaffirming their confidence in the party through the ballot promising that the trust will not be taken for granted.
“While we understand the shock that came with the disappointment of the crash of the crass opportunism as a result of falsehood and propaganda, the experience of Chinedu’s four earlier electoral losses should come in handy.
“We want to appreciate Lagosians who trooped out to vote for our party as an expression of confidence to continue on the path of progress that has given our state a pride of place in the federation.
“We want to assure all and sundry that the trust and confidence will never be taken for granted. We will definitely fulfill our part of the social contract.
“Our government will continue on the path of non-discrimination, inclusiveness, compassion and total, dedication.”
