Rhodes-Vivour PIN 2023 lost violence elections, voter oppression

Candidate Governor of the Labor Party in the 2023 General Election in the State of Lagos, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has identified widespread violence and voter oppression as the main factor responsible for the loss of the Governor of Babajide Sanwo-Olu of all Progressive Congress (APC).

In a post that was distributed in the official handle of X (previously Twitter) on Monday, Rhodes-Vivour expressed concern over what he called “culture of violence and intimidation” that form the results of the election.

He noted that despite extraordinary support from voters in certain regions, the election process was damaged by the targeted violence that damaged the will of the people.

He wrote: “When you have normalized violence against a group of people, in the end the violence must meet you.

“You see what is happening in the state assembly, where the majority, more than 90% of them, decided that they want others to talk on their behalf, to represent them, and they go through the whole process.”

He accused that voters standing on their land to support changes to meet with strength and intimidation.

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“They chose, they stood on their land, even though there was intimidation, despite the power used to fight them. But you see how the same strength is used to cut the will of the people in the State Assembly,” added the LP candidate.

Rhodes-Vivour describes this pattern of violence and emphasis as a systemic, noting that it significantly inhibits the justice of the election process.

“This is a culture of violence, intimidation, and oppression of voters, and I think it is the main obstacle for me in the 2023 election,” he said.

The 2023 governor election in Lagos was one of the sharpest contested in recent history, with Rhodes-Vivour emerged as a popular challenger, especially among youth and urban voters.

However, the exercise was reportedly tainted by violence, voter intimidation, and disturbance in several voting units throughout the state.