Lagos, Rivers, Abuja, Kano, others calm after Tinubu’s declaration as president-elect

From Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos; Victor Edozie, Port Harcourt and Jude Aguguo Owuamanam, Owerri, Seun Adeuyi (Abuja) & Salim Umar Ibrahim (Kano)

There has been relative calm in Lagos since the conduct of the presidential election on Saturday and the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president-elect.

Our correspondent reports that areas such as Lagos Island and Mainland have been quiet, though there was jubilation by supporters of the president-elect.

For instance, some members of the party held a celebration party in the Ojodu area of Ikeja. Other vicinities, especially in Lagos Island, also threw a night party.

But the major roads and highways in the state have been quiet.

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The Labour Party supporters, popularly known as the #Obidients, who initially vowed to occupy the INEC office in Lagos and some strategic locations in the state did not.

However, our correspondent observed military personnel in trucks and armoured vehicles patrolling many parts of the state.

The mood in Rivers State after the declaration of the presidential election is unlike before, when residents took to the streets to celebrate the outcome of the election.

Soon after the results were declared, the streets of Port Harcourt and its environs went silent.

Also in Owerri, there has been neither protest nor jubilation.

In Kano, the state has continued to enjoy relative peace despite the few incidences that happened before and during the elections in some places.

Daily Trust had reported that two days before the elections, there was a clash between political supporters in the state that resulted in some deaths and the loss of valuables.

The House of Representatives Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has also been arraigned over the killing of three people and injuring of eight others.

Also, the police have detained a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ali Madaki, over a trending picture showing him moving around town with firearm.

Daily Trust observed that a few hours after the declaration of APC’s Bola Ahmad Tinubu as president-elect, residents of Kano returned to their normal day-to-day activities.

Meanwhile, with the governorship and state house of assembly elections billed for March 11 fast approaching, the electorate are expressing fear due to brewing tension between the two major political parties in the state – the ruling APC and the NNPP.

In Abuja, residents have expressed mixed feelings about the emergence of Tinubu.

An engineer, Chima Ikechukwu said, “Everywhere is silent and gloomy. No shouts of jubilation. The people know who they voted for and it was not Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

But a civil servant, Ahmed Yusuf, said “The voters have spoken, and they have chosen Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as our next president and vice president.

“It’s a history-making ticket and a new page for Nigeria. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this happen; onward together.”

Also, a trader, Yunusa Ibrahim, said “This is the best election that Nigeria has had in recent times. Citizens who meant to vote exercised their rights at the polling units with far less vote-buying than before.

“Although opposition parties (PDP, NNPP and LP) played along the religious and tribal lines, the ruling party (APC) brought a new template. The APC’s new template was based on a political strategy that relied less on traditional systems.

“The party focused on getting the desired numbers and percentages from states and regions to ensure victory. Our democracy is coming of age.”