Mr Obaseki polled a total of 307,955 votes to secure his second mandate as the governor of Edo State.

By Adejumo kabir

The social media, particularly Twitter, has been agog since the results of the Edo State governorship election started coming in.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeated Osagie Ize-Iyamu, his major challenger and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While Mr Obaseki polled a total of 307,955 votes to secure his second mandate as the governor of Edo State, Mr Ize-Iyamu scored 223,619 votes.

While the election was ongoing, especially when the results were being annouinced, some major names and slangs became popular (trended) on Twitter due to issues relating to the election.

In this report, PREMIUM TIMES reviews some major hashtags that became Twitter trends during the election.

#EdoDecides2020

The above hashtag trended because of the election activities that took place in the 18 local governments areas of Edo State.

Millions of Nigerians used the hashtag to share news about the election. Variants of the hashtag such as #EdoDecides also trended during the election.

Major newspapers, civil society organizations (CSOs), police, local and international observers, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also used the hashtag to share news about the election.

#EdoNoBeLagos

Just like ‘O to gee’ was used to humiliate the former senate president, Bukola Saraki, in 2019 in Kwara State, #EdoNoBeLagos is an anti-Bola Tinubu movement used by many opposed to the former Lagos governor.

The slang was used to show that Mr Tinubu, the national leader of the APC, has little or no influence in the determination of who becomes the governor of Edo State. Other variants like #EdoNorBeLagos and #EdoNotLagos were also used.

The angst against Mr Tinubu in Edo was probably made worse after the video he did last week where he called on Edo electorates to vote against Mr Obaseki and vote for Mr Ize-Iyamu. For many, that was an indication that he wanted Edo to be a “subdued territory” like Lagos State.

#Tinubu

For many commentators, Mr Tinubu appeared arrogant in his video where he described himself as the leader of all democrats regardless of their political parties.

Mr Tinubu has been the most influential politician in Lagos for about 20 years since he was first elected governor in 1999. He is also believed to have handpicked all his successors as Lagos governor after he left office in 2007.

Mr Tinubu’s video showed that he put all he had into the ring in Edo, which probably explains why he was referenced by thousands of Twitter users.

#Oshiomhole

In the last three months, Mr Oshiomhole has suffered at least two major political losses. He had a long battle with Mr Obaseki which cost him his position as the national chairman of the APC.

He was also seen as the major ‘godfather’ behind Mr Ize-Iyamu. Like he supported Mr Obaseki in 2016, he thought he could win the election for APC.

Mr Oshiomhole served two terms as Edo governor and was instumental to Mr Obaseki’s first election as governor. Both men later fell out with Mr Oshiomhole fully backing Mr Ize-Iyamu in the latest Edo governorship election.

#Ambode

Many social media commentators remembered how a former governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, was denied the APC ticket to seek a second term as Lagos governor by Mr Tinubu and his loyalists.

A lot of observers believe Mr Oshiomhole tried to do to Mr Obaseki what Mr Tinubu did to Mr Ambode. Unlike Mr Ambode, however, Mr Obaseki defected to the PDP after he was denied the APC ticket. He won his re-election on the PDP platform.

The Ambode hashtag trended on Twitter on Sunday mainly because commentators referenced the former Lagos governor with some saying they wished he had challenged Mr Tinubu in 2019 like Mr Obaseki did to Mr Oshiomhole.

#Wike:

Nyesom Wike has been one of the most controversial politicians in Nigeria in recent time.

He led the PDP campaign in Edo and was seen as a major backer of Mr Obaseki. His support for Mr Obaseki and his role in the PDP victory was the reason he trended on Sunday.

PREMIUM TIMES

That game has been concluded, next issue, pls.
This victory is sweet but, but complacency should be avoid and prepare for the next battles

Ok

Edo nor be lagos. 4+4 ogbane. Congrats to Godwin Obaseki and his deputy Phillip Shuaibu, you too have done very well.

This changes the direction of 2023.. with the tilting of SS to the opposition 100% and the ongoing mantra of different states not being Lagos, this is a silent protest which puts the APC SW in a corner quite difficult to get out off due to the biting economy and its unfriendly people policies, unless a very significant change is made..

The smartest play left for APC SW to garner it's lost goodwill would be to get Ambode back into the fold, he is the rejected cornerstone as his acceptance has cut across party lines which is exactly what Obaseki played on, the belief out there is "Ambode refused to share money".. which indirecty makes sharing of monies the order of the day now.. if Ambode opts for opposition in 2023 with his excellent track record of accomplishment, he might aswell display an LED billboard of Lagos audit while joining heads with the sacked Alpha beta MD who has every detail, taking into consideration press is no longer singularly owned.

With opposition practically holding down two southern regions coupled with a disgruntled middlebelt, a quietly erupting Godfathered change pushing SW and a handicapped North alledgely not eligible to produce the president, it would be very lame to say the opposition wont pull its weight.

Some lagos peeps over rated tinubu despite that fact that being an old time ally of Atiku saved him from pdp invasion in 2003 when the result would have been falsified and announced in Abuja.
I remember when a biased moderator on this forum said that tinubu will take over the political leadership vaccum in the south east.
Any way Edo no be lagos and oyo, ekiti, ogun and ondo too will not be lagos.

Nah eh! No qualms
This is so unsophisticated

Social media revolution......



This will metaphor into holding corrupt politicians into account someday....



Otego was lit....Now, EdoNoBeLagos....



I hope Tinubu will be able to handle the humiliation that's coming to him....And APC as a whole.....

This Edo election would make this politicians sit tight and do things right

American Govt. played a huge role in that election. Any rigging from APC would have lead to visa ban for Tinubu and his cohorts. they didn't want to risk it. Truimp play a big role in that election

I wish this Edo elections will finally put an end to godfatherism in Nigerian politics

The people should choose who to lead them, not one godfather

Edo Election will kickstart a political revolution in Nigeria because it has become a reference point.Imagine how these useless so called political godfathers have contributed in bastardizing democracy today.They must be dismantled & cripple out.

ggirl4real:
I wish this Edo elections will finally put an end to godfatherism in Nigerian politics.The people should choose who to lead them, not one godfather

Well said sir.This should be the trend to pass a message to these useless leaders hence the only way to improve our democracy.

Nigerians should start waking up to the fact that our future as a country and choosing a leader doesn't lie in the hands of a political God father either in PDP or APC.

The "OTOGE" movement in Kwara against Saraki was a start and now the "EDO NO BE LAGOS" is also a success. We can do it in Nigeria. We can take back what is rightfully ours. Let Lagosians wake up.

Edo can never be Lagos. A Rat can never be lion.

Okay o

Anyone heard or found where Oshiomole could be at?! Because I want to tell him something.


WE need a third force political party to make electioneering competitive.

Nigerian political sphere shouldn't just revolve around APC/PDP.

Like if you agree(Third force)
Share if you disagree(APC/PDP)

wetin Oshopikin no go see for Obaseki hand

Nna eh! No qualms

You

Lol, who ever wrote " Edo no be Lagos, let me go home' no well

Nothing to say here.

Amidst the challenges, Nigerians are happy people

MY PROPHECY AND I SAW THIS IN MY DREAM LADT NIGHT

Buhari will form a new Political Party soon.

He is tired of APC.

Tinubu and all will be shocked when this will happen

Mark my words

Lovely

Lol

Ambode may finally come back to finish his tenure

AND LAGOS STATE IS NOT DEVELOPED...MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE JUST SUFFERING IN LAGOS, THINKING THAT IS LIFE

Some ppl are just too greedy... Like Nigeria was made for only them and their families... Any small chance to hold public office, Dem no go want comot there again...

I hope Obaseki too won't lord himself as a godfather after his second tenure