The Government of United States has revealed that during the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) sponsored thugs to scare and suppress voters in Igbo-dominated areas in Lagos State.
The U.S. Department of State revealed this in its ‘2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria,’ published recently on its website.
According to the U.S. government, after the victory of Peter Obi of the Labour Party at the February 25, 2023 presidential polls, the APC hired thugs to deny Igbo votes for Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, in favour of incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was seeking a second term in office then.
The U.S. government acknowledged that the 2023 election in Nigeria was widely reported to have reflected the will of voters, despite technical and logistical difficulties, as well as some irregularities.
The report noted: “Many independent observers assessed the results of the presidential, legislative, and state-level elections during the year reflected the will of voters, despite reports of voter suppression and vote buying, campaigning at polling stations, lack of ballot secrecy, violence, and intimidation.
“During the March 18 state election in Lagos, All Progressives Congress supporters reportedly intimidated and suppressed voters in Igbo-dominated areas, which Labour Party presidential candidate and ethnically Igbo Peter Obi won in the February 25 national election.
“Viral videos on social media showed APC supporters in Ojo threatening to attack ethnic Igbo voters presumed to be pro-Obi. In Eti-Osa, APC supporters also attacked journalists and, in some cases, shut down voting and prevented non-Yoruba voters from accessing polls. They similarly destroyed property and physically blocked voters in Amuwo-Odofin.”
The report referenced videos on social media showing police officers presence at polling stations where electoral malpractices and violence occurred, failing to respond to attacks.
It added that there was no evidence to prove whether any of the alleged perpetrators had been arrested or prosecuted.
