The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State,Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has attributed his defeat in the 2023 gubernatorial election to the overwhelming influence of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate.
Jandor, who contested against the incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), believes that Obi’s strong performance in the presidential election altered the political dynamics in Lagos, ultimately affecting his chances of victory.
Election Breakdown and the ‘Obi Effect’
In the 2023 Lagos gubernatorial election, Sanwo-Olu secured a decisive win with 762,134 votes, while LP’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour finished second with 312,329 votes, leaving Jandor in a distant third place with 62,449 votes.
However, the outcome of the presidential election, which preceded the governorship poll, saw an unexpected victory for Obi in Lagos. He secured 582,454 votes, narrowly defeating APC’s Bola Tinubu, who garnered 572,606 votes. PDP’s Atiku Abubakar came in third with 75,750 votes, followed by NNPP’s Rabiu Kwankwaso with 8,442 votes.
Jandor’s Perspective on the Political Shift
Speaking on Channels Televisions’ Politics Today on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Jandor described the 2023 election as an unpredictable political “tsunami” that drastically altered the landscape.
“The 2023 election came with a wave that nobody expected, and it was evident for all to see,” he remarked.
He explained that before the presidential election on February 25, PDP had strong momentum in Lagos, and the ruling APC seemed absent from major political engagements.
“Before the general election, we were actively on the streets of Lagos, and the ruling party was nowhere to be found. We participated in several debates, but Sanwo-Olu refused to show up, claiming he didn’t want to share a stage with me,” Jandor recalled.
However, he noted that once Obi won the presidential vote in Lagos, the narrative shifted.
“The moment that happened, there was a belief among voters that if they could win Lagos in the presidential election, they could also take the state government. That belief changed everything,” he said.
Jandor believes this momentum consolidated opposition support behind the LP’s governorship candidate, reducing his own electoral chances.
“Each time I address my supporters, I tell them: we did everything right, but that wave came and swallowed everything. Nobody saw it coming,” he lamented.
Could Jandor Have Won Without the ‘Obi Effect’?
Jandor insists that, had it not been for Obi’s influence, the governorship race would have played out differently, potentially in his favor.
“If not for the Peter Obi effect, I probably would have won the election at the governorship level,” he asserted.
Political Implications and Future Outlook
Jandor’s analysis highlights the shifting political landscape in Lagos, where the APC’s dominance faced an unprecedented challenge. His remarks also suggest that future elections in the state may no longer be a straightforward battle between the APC and PDP, as the LP’s emergence has significantly reshaped voter dynamics.
As Lagos prepares for future elections, the question remains: will the LP sustain its momentum, or will traditional political structures reassert dominance? Jandor’s reflections indicate that any party hoping to challenge APC’s stronghold in Lagos must navigate the evolving political forces at play