By Erewunmi Peace

Former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has stirred national debate with a recent statement claiming that Peter Obi’s victory in Lagos during the 2023 presidential election was due to the large Igbo population in the state.

In a now-viral video clip from an interview on Channels Television, Sheriff asserted that Lagos is “largely occupied by Igbos,” suggesting that this demographic tilt was instrumental in the Labour Party candidate’s surprising win in the February 2023 poll.

“There are more Igbo people in Lagos than any other tribe. That is why Peter Obi won the election there,” said Sheriff, who added that he has lived in Lagos since 1980.

Election Context

During the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi polled 582,454 votes (45.8%), narrowly defeating APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who garnered 572,606 votes (45.0%) in Lagos. The result was seen as a major upset, given Tinubu’s long-standing political dominance in the state.

Demographic Reality

Sheriff’s claim has sparked widespread backlash, as official data does not support the assertion that Igbos dominate Lagos. While the Igbo community is a significant and visible part of Lagos society, the state remains predominantly Yoruba, with a population of over 20 million people from diverse ethnic and national backgrounds.

No census or credible population survey has confirmed the Igbo as the largest ethnic group in the state.

Mixed Reactions

Social media has been flooded with mixed reactions to Sheriff’s remarks. Some have labeled the statement as ethnically insensitive, while others see it as part of a broader conversation about migration, identity, and voting patterns in Nigeria’s urban centers.

Political analysts also caution that such comments may undermine national unity by reducing electoral outcomes to ethnic narratives rather than performance, policy, or popularity.