Nigeria Decides: How Peter Obi Demystified Tinubu, Brought About A Paradigm Shift In Lagos

By Akinwale Kasali

No star gazers could have predicted that the Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, could emerge as the winner of the Presidential Poll in Lagos State.

Political analysts had predicted a landslide win for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and its Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ever Since the emergence of Democratic rule in Nigeria from 1999 till 2019, Lagos State has always been the stronghold of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, in which Tinubu rode on its crest to become Governor of Lagos which metamorphosed to Action Congress, AC, to Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN before the merging of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP and the ACN to the All Progressives Congress, APC, that brought about the emergence of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu has always been at the center of the change in Party name and has never lost Lagos State to any opposition.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  always wrestled with Tinubu in winning Lagos State the commercial hub of the country, but he has stood tall.

Then Obi happened!

The defeat of the Jagaban Borgu as Tinubu is called came as a huge surprise and setback to the APC, because it has always described the LP as a Party without a structure.

Interestingly the  party without a structure has demystified the ‘Almighty APC‘ with a large structure.

Labour Party became relevant in Lagos political space  less than eight months ago following the acceptability of Obi’s Presidential ambition by Youths who aligned with his vision, mission and intention to change the nation’s fortune.

The massive support received by LP weeks to the election was phenomenal, as the logo of ‘Father, Mother and Child’ became symbol that every of its supporters, both literate and illiterate used as a campaign song.

The LP was able to capitalize on the failure of the PDP following the withdrawal of the Five aggrieved Governors that include Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State to support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Party’s Presidential Candidate.

This really dealt a big blow to the PDP as the PDP in Lagos State became factionalized given the LP an edge.

All the Local Governments that Obi won in Lagos State were the stronghold of PDP since 2011, but the LP with its fierce campaign won these areas.

That the LP was able to win Alimosho Local Government which is the stronghold of the APC, the most populous LG in the State, shows a paradigm shift in the political landscape of the State.

There has, however, been attacks on Igbo Traders in the State. Tinubu has called for calm.

In a statement by the Director, Media and Publicity, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga,

Tinubu appealed to the people of Lagos State to be calm and eschew any act that can lead to breakdown of law and order.

Tinubu 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.

The APC candidate further said that as a democrat he is bound to accept the outcome of any election whether favourable or not.

The former Lagos State Governor expressed serious concern over reports of violence in parts of the State, especially, the reported attacks on some traders of Igbo origin.

He condemned any form of violence against people of any ethnic group in Lagos.

“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,” the statement said.

Another factor that played against the APC in the State was the unavailability of funds to share around for its members which has been the norm and a ritual during electioneering in the State.

This culminated in the voters apathy witnessed in the State. Most people failed to come out to cast their votes as the unavailability of funds made them stay indoor.

The doggedness, determination and perseverance of the LP supporters brought about the victory as they remained unperturbed by the intimidation and threats from the APC supporters in the State to defend their votes resulting to the victory of their principal.

No doubt the victory of the LP will bring about alignment and realignment between the LP and the PDP as the Governorship Election is fast approaching.

If LP could spring a surprise by defeating Tinubu, then Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu needs to up the ante in the March 11, 2023 Governorship Election in the State.

LP Gubernatorial Candidate, Gbolahan Vivour-Rhodes and PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Olajide Adediran could synergize to cause another upset at the Governorship as the LP victory as send fears to the spine of Governor Sanwo Olu on re-election bid.

In the coming days, the political landscape in the State will be heated following the surprising loss of the Party at the center.

All hands are on deck to see if Tinubu and APC will finally lose the State to the opposition after 24 years rule.