Lagos State chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo promises Sanwoolu 2m votes in next week's elections

OHANEZE Ndigbo leaders in Lagos State have promised the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate Babajide Sanwoolu 2m votes from the Igbo community in next Saturday's governorship elections.

On March 9, Lagosians join other states in Nigeria as they head to the polls to elect a governor and members of the state house of assembly. In more than any other state of the federation, however, Igbos form a large minority in Lagos State and their votes could be a deciding factor in what is now looking like a close race between Mr Sanwoolu and Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Over the last week, there has been a lot of tension in Lagos as some APC chieftains have been threatening the Igbo community with attacks if they voted for the PDP. In a bid to douse the tension, Mr Sanwoolu met with Ohaneze Ndigbo leaders in Lagos over the weekend and it appears that the two sides were able to reach a deal.

After a town hall meeting yesterday, Ohanaeze Ndigbo's Lagos State leader Solomon Ogbonna, said his members have concluded plans to cast their votes for Mr Sanwoolu. Mr Ogbonna promised to mobilise the over 2m Igbo voters in Lagos to cast their votes for Mr Sanwoolu but demanded he should appoint six of their members as commissioners after the election.

During the presidential and National Assembly elections, a majority of Igbos voted for the PDP but this time around, the Ohaneze Ndigbo leaders are promising that things will be different. Already, Mr Sanwoolu has appreciated the gesture in a tweet appreciating Ohaneze Ndigbo and also posted a video of the meeting.

He added: “We are endorsing him because this is the man that will give us what we have been craving for in Lagos. This is the best that can happen to the Ndigbo in Lagos, so come out and vote for him and hold me responsible for this because I know him and I have seen what he can do."

Everest Nweke, the secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, stressed that the endorsement did not indicate that they had started engaging in politics but showed they were very concerned about how Igbos are governed, especially the lives and property of Ndigbo. Ohaneze Ndigbo women's leader, Nkechi Agubuzor, also said over 2m of their members would be mobilised to cast their votes for the APC candidate.