Nigeria: gubernatorial election results come amid tense context

In Nigeria, incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu officially won the March 19 gubernatorial election for his party, the All Progressives Congress. He is therefore running for a second term at the head of the economic capital of more than 20 million inhabitants. AP - Sunday Alamba

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

In Nigeria, the announcement of the results of the gubernatorial election will continue on Monday, March 20. So far, the All Progressives Congress has won the most regions, and the People's Democratic Party is slowing down in some states. No favourable result for the Labour Party, on the other hand, has yet been announced. Saturday's elections were marred by violence and irregularities across the country.

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with our correspondent in Lagos, Liza Fabbian

In Lagos, the name of the winner was announced overnight. Incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu officially won this election for the All Progressives Congress – he is running for a second term at the helm of the economic capital of more than 20 million people.

► Read also: In Nigeria, the election of the governor of Lagos, a crucial political issue and source of tension

The Labour Party candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, on whom rested the hope of seeing a new political force emerge in the megalopolis, has already rejected these results.

"I will never call and congratulate Babajide Sanwo-Olu for this sham of an election. This will not stand"

- Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour pic.twitter.com/h3yXFqgDsR

— 🐬 @onejoblessboy (@OneJoblessBoy) March 19, 2023

Abba Kabir Yusuf wins in Kano

The opposition, on the other hand, has just won an important victory in Kano state – the second most populous region in the country, where Abba Kabir Yusuf of the Nigerian New People's Party was elected governor. This is a very important victory for the leader of the NNPP, former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who came out ahead in the region during the presidential election.

The latter thus takes revenge on his former ally, the outgoing governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, of the APC. The local government imposed a curfew this morning in the state of Kano, to avoid any overflow when the results were announced.

In Lagos, as in other parts of Nigeria, the election was marred by violence and logistical problems. In Kebbi State, the Electoral Commission even stated that the results could not be taken into account, given the extent of the irregularities.

► Read also: In Nigeria, the stakes of the election of governors, a decisive election

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