It was a huge surprise when results announced by INEC at its Lagos Collation centre on Monday showed that Peter Obi of the Labour Party had outpolled Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Against the background of the larger-than-life image of the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu who has literally held the state under his thumb, it is no mean feat that Obi is able to achieve this victory. For many Tinubu followers it is a humiliating victory especially coming from a candidate who has been serially derided as not having a political structure. Ever since his days as the governor of Lagos state and about twenty years after, most political appointments or decisions in the state have had to get his nod or else it will not fly.
From the results announced, Peter Obi polled 582,454 votes beating Tinubu who polled 572,850 to second place with about 10000 votes. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came a distant third place with 75,750 votes.
Tinubu, known by several sobriquets such as “Jagaban”, “Lion of Bourdillon” has by this result lost his infallible, invincible toga in Lagos politics. However it must be understood that Lagos is just one out of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory where the Presidential elections held. This Lagos result may not necessarily be a basis for judging or predicting his performance in the entire elections.
Nigeria Decides 2023: Surprise as Peter Obi Defeats Tinubu in Lagos
