The Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State has urged the European Union (EU) and other international community to come to the rescue of democracy in Nigeria, given the outcome of the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Chairman of the party, Dayo Ekong, who spoke in Ikeja, yesterday, maintained that a lot of Nigerians were humiliated, suppressed and intimidated when suspected that they would not vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ekong said that she was surprised that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared a winner of the election despite the activities of hoodlums and political thugs that tormented and maimed the people.
She also questioned the presence of security officials at the polling units, saying that when the hoodlums were intimidating, harassing and beating the voters, they were indifferent as if nothing was happening.
“I want the international organisations to come to the rescue of Nigerian masses that are being humiliated and suppressed by those that think they have the power and tax-payers’ money to oppress the helpless and defenceless. This is what we had on March 18, 2023,” she said.
Ekong, however, alleged that elections did not hold in a lot of local councils because the hoodlums were waiting at the polling units to intimidate voters.
The Lagos LP deputy governorship candidate, Islamiyat Oyefusi, said that it was saddening that Nigeria’s democratic processes have been brought to such barbaric level.
She said: “It’s an election and people have the civic right to go out and vote. Freedom of choice and association is our human right. People have the right to associate with whatever political party and choose whosoever they want. It is not right that Lagos State as the commercial capital of Nigeria, the colonial capital of Nigeria, the face of Nigeria and the fourth largest economy in Africa can display terrorism.”
Also, a member of LP Presidential Campaign Council, Mrs. Juliana Odigie-Oyegun, said that if such barbaric treatment of voters during the election were allowed to stand, then a precedent has been set.
On his part, Deputy Chairman of LP, Igene Paul, said: “If Nigerians have to accept this election in Lagos and even the presidential election, we call on the military to take over. It is very painful. I wept that day. Is this what we want to leave for our children? I came out because of my children, not for myself.
“If Nigerians cannot react, if our legal body cannot do anything now and they allow this government to still remain, it is better the military come and take over.”
