Why Peter Obi Won Lagos: Former Borno Governor Alimodu Sheriff Cites Igbo Majority

 

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Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, has attributed Peter Obi’s surprise win in Lagos State during the 2023 presidential election to the dominance of the Igbo ethnic group in the state. Speaking in a recent interview, Sheriff claimed that “there are more Igbos in Lagos than any other tribe,” implying that ethnic identity was a major factor in the Labour Party candidate’s success.

Election Context: How Obi Pulled a Surprise in Lagos

• The 2023 Nigerian presidential election, held on February 25, saw Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) defeat Bola Ahmed Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lagos — Tinubu’s political base.

• Obi secured 582,454 votes, narrowly edging out Tinubu, who garnered 572,606 votes. This slim margin of about 9,848 votes marked a stunning upset in a state long considered an APC stronghold.

• Lagos, known as Nigeria’s commercial capital, has historically voted along APC lines, largely due to Tinubu’s long-standing political influence in the state.

Sheriff’s Comment on Social Media and Public Discussion

Sheriff’s remark — “Peter Obi won Lagos because there are more Igbos in Lagos than any other tribe” — has sparked mixed reactions online. While some users on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook echoed the sentiment, others criticized it as an oversimplification that overlooks the multi-ethnic, issue-based voter base that supported Obi.

Political analysts and netizens pointed to widespread youth support for Obi, driven by discontent with the status quo, poor governance, and a desire for political reform — not just ethnic alignment.

Broader Implications: Ethnicity, Vote Dynamics and Political Narratives

• Sheriff’s statement highlights a recurring theme in Nigerian politics — the intersection of ethnicity and voting behavior, especially in diverse urban centers like Lagos.

• However, independent observers argue that Obi’s win reflected a broader coalition of urban youth, civil society actors, and professionals disillusioned with both APC and PDP, rather than a purely ethnic movement.

• The 2023 election also saw high voter turnout in areas with large non-indigenous populations, suggesting an evolving voting pattern influenced by issues rather than identity.

Why It Matters

• Sheriff’s comments feed into an ongoing national debate about the role of ethnic identity in electoral outcomes, especially in cosmopolitan states.

• Understanding the true drivers behind Obi’s Lagos win — whether ethnic, generational, or ideological — is crucial for political parties preparing for future elections.

Key Takeaways

• Former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff believes Obi won Lagos due to the high Igbo population: “There are more Igbos in Lagos than any other tribe.”

• Peter Obi defeated Bola Tinubu in Lagos by a narrow margin of under 10,000 votes.

• Analysts caution against reducing the result purely to ethnic voting — urban engagement, youth-driven activism, and effective online mobilization played critical roles.

• Social media debate remains active over ethnic influence versus broader electoral shifts in Nigerian urban voting patterns.

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