Tinubu and Sanwoolu condemn violence that erupted in response to Obi's shock Lagos victory

ALL Progressive Congress (APC) leaders including its presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwoolu have appealed to their supporters to end the violence that erupted in Lagos State after the party's shock defeat in the presidential polls.

On Saturday, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president. Among the main frontrunners were former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Tinubu of the APC, former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Asiwaju Tinubu had been expected to sweep the votes in Lagos but in a shock development, Governor Obi beat him in the state with 582,664 votes to Tinubu's 541,850 votes. Immediately the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) announced the results, violence broke out, with thugs attacking traders and burning down shops.

It is believed that those carrying out the violence were APC supporters and most of the victims of these attacks were traders of Igbo extraction who come from southeast Nigeria like Governor Obi. To their credit, both Asiwaju Tinubu and Governor Sanwoolu have both condemned the attacks and urged residents to avoid any act of violence.

Asiwaju Tinubu said: “The fact that the APC narrowly lost Lagos State to another party should not be the reason for violence. As a democrat, you win some, you lose some. We must allow the process to continue unhindered across the country while we maintain peace and decorum.”

He said the outcome of the election in Lagos where Labour Party won the presidential election should not be a source of provocation saying that the beauty of democracy is that people have a right to vote for the candidate of their choice. Bayo Onanuga, Asiwaju Tinubu's spokesman, added that as a democrat, he is bound to accept the outcome of any election whether favourable or not.

Asiwaju Tinubu expressed serious concern over reports of violence in parts of the state especially reported attacks on some traders of Igbo origin. He condemned any form of violence against people of any ethnic group in Lagos.

Likewise, Governor Sanwoolu also appealed to the people of Lagos State to be calm and eschew any act that can lead to breakdown of law and order. In a statement issued through Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos State information commissioner, the governor said Lagosians are a peaceful people and must remain so during these elections.

Governor Sanwoolu added: “There is no need for violence, which is not part of our culture. I urge all Lagosians to go about their businesses without any fear of harassment.

“Law enforcement agencies have been asked to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in any part of the state. I have been your governor for almost four years, promoting harmony and friendship across ethnic and religious lines without any form of discrimination whatsoever.