By Uche Amunike
Supporters of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the February 25th general election, Peter Obi, have been in a celebratory mood since results of their victory in the Lagos state polls were announced, Monday, as they were seen jubilating over their win, in spite of all the boasts made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) about being the owners of Lagos and also, regardless of all the irregularities witnessed in the state during the election.
According to the results declared for Lagos state, Peter Obi of the Labour Party polled 582,454 votes, while Bola Tinubu of the APC garnered 572,606 votes, notwithstanding his position as former governor of the state.
Out of the 20 local government areas in the state, Obi won, even in the major strongholds of Tinubu in previous elections. Obi cleared the votes in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin, Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu, Ojo and Alimosho, while Tinubu garnered his 572,606 votes from Agege, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikorodu, Mushin, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Surulere.
What shocked Nigerians was that Obi won Tinubu in his Ikeja Local Council where he cast his vote and in Eti-Osa Local Council, where he is resident and has built a political empire over the years. He lost to Obi by 9,848 votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also declared Peter Obi as the winner of the Saturday election in Edo state.
According to the Commission’s Collation Officer in Edo state and Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom state, Prof Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, who announced the results, Peter Obi polled a total of 331,163 votes to win the state, flooring Bola Tinubu of the APC who scored 144,471 votes and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP who got 89,585 votes.
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had promised to deliver Edo state for his party during the elections in Delta state.
He has however, not only lost his polling unit, ward and local government to Labour Party. He also lost his senatorial district in the February 25thgeneral polls.
According to the results announced by the district returning officer, Prof. A. Obasuyi, out of the 2,501,081 voters in Edo, 603,894 were accredited. The valid votes were 581,266, while the total votes cast were 600,395.
Labour Party won the presidential election in 12 Local Government Areas, namely Igueben, Esan Central, Esan North-East, Egor, Esan South-East, Esan West, Uhunmwonde, Orhionmwon, Ovia South-West, Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha and Ovia North-East.
On their part, the APC won in six local government areas, namely Owan West, Owan East, Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako West and Etsako East.
The collated results were signed by the agents of the Labour Party, APC, PDP and the other 18 political parties that participated in the election.
Peter Obi also came victorious in Enugu state at the Saturday elections. He polled 428,640, leaving Atiku Abubakar of the PDP with 15,749 votes and Bola Tinubu of the APC with 4772 votes. On his part, Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party garnered 1,808 votes.
According to the Collation Officer of the presidential election in Enugu and Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture- Umudike, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, a total of 2,112,793 voters were registered, while 482,990 of them were accredited. The valid votes totaled 456,424, while rejected votes were 12,467, making the total votes cast to be 468,891 in number.
Labour Party won the entire 17 Local Government Areas by a great margin.
