The Lagos State Civil Society Participation for Development, LACSOP, has congratulated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for winning his second term bid into office and all the winners of the Lagos State House of Assembly Elections.
The group, however, expressed grave concerns about the unprecedented ethnic profiling, voter intimidation, and suppression that dominated the electoral process on March 18, 2023.
In a press release issued by LACSOP’s Media Lead, Blessing Oladunjoye, and signed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Barr. Ayo Adebusoye, the group condemned vote buying, and violence incidents reported in different areas across the state.
Adebusoye said what played out during the elections on March 18 “is a step backward for a cosmopolitan state like Lagos which could taint the victory of the winners that emerged.”
Adebusoye also noted that there is a need to shun any form of tribalism and that the political culture of every individual should be respected and protected.
He urged all political actors to uphold the tenets of democracy, stressing that “we need to focus on issues-based politics which would be beneficial to all, and not intimidation and oppression of opposition.
“This should not continue because it does not augur well.”
The Executive Secretary of LACSOP, Dede Kadiri also called for the immediate investigation of the reported cases of attacks against voters and voter intimidation.
Kadiri explained that if the cases are not investigated and perpetrators brought to book, such would create impunity for attacks against voters.
“There is a need to investigate all the reported cases over the weekend, such that perpetrators can deter from such going forward,” she added.