The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately withholding the allowances of ad-hoc staff to manipulate the polls. Rhodes-Vivour made this statement while casting his vote at polling unit PO 045 in Anifowoshe, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Rhodes-Vivour, who is one of the frontrunners in the governorship race, will be contesting against the incumbent governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressive Congress (APC), and Mr. Abdul-Azeez Adediran of the Labour Party.
Unpaid allowance of ad-hoc staff INEC’s ploy to manipulate polls – Rhodes-Vivour pic.twitter.com/8BIJT6NlxO
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) March 18, 2023
The upcoming gubernatorial election in Lagos State is expected to be keenly contested following the surprising victory of the Labour Party in the state during the presidential election. Rhodes-Vivour has emerged as a popular candidate whose message has resonated with the teeming youths, who form the backbone of the unexpected rise of the Labour Party in the state.
The allegation of deliberate manipulation of the polls by INEC through the non-payment of allowances to ad-hoc staff is a serious one. INEC has the responsibility of conducting free, fair and credible elections, and any attempt to manipulate the polls would be a violation of this mandate. It is important that the electoral body takes this allegation seriously and investigates it to ensure that the integrity of the election is not compromised.
The success of the Lagos State governorship election is crucial not only for the state but also for the nation as a whole. Lagos is a significant economic hub and a major contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A peaceful and credible election in the state will be a step towards consolidating Nigeria’s democracy and promoting political stability.
