2023 election: Tinubu speaks after losing Lagos to Peter Obi

Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to the people of Lagos State to shun violence that can lead to the breakdown of law and order.

Tinubu, who ruled Lagos State for eight years, said the outcome of the election in Lagos where the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi won should not cause outrage among residents in the state.

Obi, a former Anambra State governor, shocked political observers when he polled more votes than Tinubu in 20 local governments in Lagos.

READ ALSO: 2023 election: Peter Obi wins in Lagos, beats Tinubu, Atiku

Tinubu polled 572,606 behind Obi who had 582,354. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 75,750 votes, while Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Adewole Adebayo of Social Democratic Party (SDP) had 8,442 and 772 respectively.

The number of registered votes was put at 6,942,885; accredited voters 1,347,152, valid votes 1,271,451; rejected votes: 64,278 and total votes cast 1,335,729.

Reacting to the result, the APC candidate noted that the beauty of democracy is that people have a right to vote for the candidate of their choice.

READ ALSO: Tinubu defeats Peter Obi, Atiku in Obasanjo polling unit

Tinubu in a statement by APC presidential campaign spokesman Bayo Onanuga said that as a democrat he is bound to accept the outcome of any election if it favours him or otherwise.

“The fact that the APC narrowly lost Lagos State to another party should not be the reason for violence. As a democrat, you win some, you lose some. We must allow the process to continue unhindered across the country while we maintain peace and decorum.”

He expressed serious concern over reports of violence in parts of the state.