In a surprising turn of events, Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has defeated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the political heavyweight and former Governor of Lagos State, in his own political stronghold.
The results of the Lagos State Presidential election, which was held on Saturday, showed that Obi had won in seven local governments, while Tinubu had won in ten. However, with only the results of Alimosho, Ojo, and Mushin pending, Obi had polled 449,088 votes, while Tinubu had garnered 416,431 votes.
The victory for Obi in Lagos, a state that has traditionally been a stronghold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is being seen as a significant shift in the country’s political landscape. With a large number of non-indigenes, particularly Igbos, living in Lagos, Obi was able to garner significant support in areas like Ojo.
Tinubu, who is widely regarded as the godfather of Lagos politics, had been projected to win the majority of votes in the state. However, Obi’s victory has thrown a spanner in the works, and the final results of the Alimosho, Ojo, and Mushin local governments are expected to be crucial in determining the winner of the state’s Presidential election.
Mushin’s result had initially been announced by the Collation Officer, but it was rejected due to some dispute in the figure. Nevertheless, Tinubu is still projected to win the majority votes in Lagos State, and his political clout in the region is unlikely to be diminished anytime soon.
The Lagos State Presidential election was keenly contested, with both candidates crisscrossing the state in a bid to woo voters. While Obi focused on issues such as job creation, infrastructure development, and poverty alleviation, Tinubu emphasized his track record as a former Governor of the state, and his commitment to the development of Lagos.
As the country awaits the final results of the Lagos State Presidential election, it is clear that the political landscape in Nigeria is changing. With a growing number of young, educated, and politically aware Nigerians demanding change, it is likely that the country’s political elite will have to adapt to this new reality or risk being left behind.
