Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has been declared winner of the 2023 governorship election held in Lagos State on Saturday 18th March 2023.
Collation officer, Professor Adenike Oladiji on Monday morning in Yaba, Lagos announced the results and declared Sanwo-Olu the duly elected governor of the state. This means the incumbent governor and his deputy; Dr. Obafemi Hamzat would stir the affairs of the state for the next four years.
Appreciating his supporters at the State House, Marina, Sanwo-Olu said, “The announcement has confirmed that the mandate that was given Femi and I four years ago has now been renewed and refreshed.”
He also said he will continue to carry on the programs of his government with uttermost responsibility that he is known for and he will not do anything less.
“This is the centre of foreign/direct investment in Africa, the environment must be conducive for local and international investors, for them to believe that we are ready for business and the market is opened and their investment can be secured here.
“Security is important, Lagos continues to be the safest city in our country but we need to even do more, support all the security operatives to continue to ensure that this place is peaceful, remains open to businesses that people can continue to live without fear in the city. That is what this place is all about.
“I don’t want to talk about parties, Lagosians in all have voted, you can see the numbers, it is not anything close, so it is an overwhelming majority and it has signified to us that the little work we have done that we still have energy to do more, Lagosians appreciated it and so that confidence and hope that they have in us, we will not disappoint them and that is the commitment we are giving,” he said.
Appreciating his supporters more, Sanwo-Olu said, “I want to thank you very much, we cannot do it without all of the support that you have continued to give Femi and I.”
Meanwhile, he did not fail to salute his fellow contestants, stretching an olive branch and hand of fellowship.
“To all of our fellow contestants, we want to salute you for participating in the democratic process, but Lagosians have spoken and they have spoken well, they have spoken loud. Please remember we are stretching a hand of fellowship to you, no victor, no vanquished in the true field of sportsmanship. It is in this believe that if you want to serve this state, you have an opportunity with us and we want to open our doors to you and to listen to you.
“During this campaign, we have seen very divisive rhetoric, this is not the true picture of who we are, and so, Lagosians, we need to come together and further build the capacity, the competence and the experience we have in this city. Religion will not divide us, ethnicity will not divide us, Lagos will come out bigger, stronger and better,” he prayed.
Flanked by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the governor said he was not unaware of the pockets of disturbances during the process.
“We are not unaware of the few skirmishes in some parts of the city and we are sure the security operatives are alive to their responsibilities to ensure that Lagos remains safe,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu scored a total of 762,134 votes to defeat his closest rival of the Labour Party (LP), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivor who scored 312,329 votes and Olajide Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 62,449 votes.
All the results from the governorship election in Lagos State
Source: INEC
Report by Dayo Emmanuel
