LAGOS  – Chief Bode George, for­mer Deputy national chairman of the Peo­ples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the Satur­day’s gubernatorial election in Lagos State as a sham and utter disgrace to democracy.

George in a press statement on Sunday said that he felt so shattered, so heartbroken that Nigeria’s democracy is now in a shambles.

He said, “What a disgrace! I am close to 80 years now but never in my life have I seen such a despicable and dishonourable way of not allowing people ex­press their right to elect who­ever they want. This election, in some places, was completely shambolic. What is going on?

“It is disheartening that La­gos State, the bastion of civility, humility, decorum, harmony and respect for the rule of law was, on Saturday, turned to a den of lunatics during the gov­ernorship and House of Assem­bly elections.

Atona Odua of Yoruba land added, “This is no longer democ­racy. What happened on Satur­day, March 18 in Lagos State was utter lunacy, a complete sham perpetrated by demented souls. Our forefathers who founded Lagos, the Aworis and others, will be angry in their graves at those power-hungry fellows who turned everything upside down in their quest to retain power at all cost.

“We all know that ‘Oro’ is done in a rural setting, and at night. But in Lagos, we saw some ‘Oro’ worshippers – fake or real – invoking spiritual insults on other Nigerians in broad daylight. This is a bas­tardisation of our culture and tradition.

George stated that other states are running their elec­tions smoothly and democrat­ically without violence but the reverse is the case in Lagos.

He said, “During the presi­dential and National Assembly elections on February 25, sol­diers were seen on the road and there was civility. Thugs didn’t mess up. There was complete peace. So, who ordered that the soldiers should be withdrawn during the governorship and House of Assembly elections? Was their withdrawal ordered to ensure that thugs had a field day, snatching and burning bal­lot boxes and papers?

“When are we going to be civil in our approach to consti­tutional democracy?

This is not the Lagos we used to be proud of. This election is a total disgrace to the All Progres­sives Congress (APC) as a party and Nigeria as a country.

“Due to threats from thugs, many potential voters returned home in anger without voting.

“In many polling units, we watched videos of snatching of ballot boxes/papers by APC thugs. Ballot boxes and papers were also burnt.

Lamenting the activities of thugs, George stated that thugs were seen with dangerous weapons invading polling units, threatening voters to either vote for APC or leave, while some voters were matcheted and shot.

“The tragic comedy of the electoral charade was wit­nessed when a couple was turned back from a polling unit by APC thugs because they look like Igbo. Whereas they are full blooded Yoruba.

Sisi Yemmie, the affected woman, said in a video which has gone viral: “I was born in Lagos. I am a Lagos woman. This is my village but I was not allowed to vote because I don’t look like a Yoruba. My husband and I were not allowed to vote. They said we look like Igbo people. I can’t believe this,” the statement further reads.