Supporters of Peter Obi rally, lock down Lagos, Bauchi, Asaba, Calabar

Massive turnout of supporters of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party,  during rallies held on Saturday in parts of Lagos, Asaba, Calabar, Bauchi and Warri, led to traffic congestion on a number of major roads.

In Lagos, the Lekki-Epe expressway as well as Surulere, they were seen marching and chanting songs of praise for the presidential hopeful.

Many of them ditched the Nigerian green and white flag for the Labour Party’s multi-coloured flag, waving as they marched in excitement. Others adorned paraphernalia of the party.

In Delta State, another mammoth crowd marched from Inter-Bus roundabout along Nnbisi road in Asaba, the state capital.

A similar situation was recorded in Warri where Obi’s supporters converged on Effurun roundabout and  marched to the Airport Road and later Warri city stadium where Labour Party leaders urged them to vote wisely in the 2023 general elections.

In Calabar, dancers wore traditional attires and lined major roads chanting “Obi! Obi!” to match the beats of traditional musical instruments.

Other supporters adorned the Labour Party’s multi-colour flag in a show of support for Obi.

In a Facebook video posted by The Nation, another excited crowd marched in support of Mr Obi in Bauchi.

Some of them could be seen chanting “Carry me dey go, Obi, carry me dey go, dey go, dey go,” while waving the Nigerian and Labour Party flag.

The physically challenged, market women and other people from many places thronged the busy roads of the Bauchi metropolis to show their support for Obi.

The supporters who trekked about 10km distance to the converging point at Rafin Zurfi were screaming the slogan ‘we are not only on social media, we are real’.

Speaking shortly after the rally, the Chairman of the Labour Party in the state, Hussein Saraki, said he was shocked to see the turnout of the supporters.

“Peter Obi will take us from consumption to production because we are tired of misrule. Just look at the crowd, I am surprised myself by what is happening in Bauchi. The day Peter will come it will be great. This movement has just started. We will take our country by the grace of God,” he said

The massive turnout has put to question claims that Obi, labelled by opponents as a social media candidate because of the support he enjoys from social media, would not enjoy the same support on the ballot.