ABSTRACT

Igbophobia or anti-Igbo sentiment has been identified as a phenomenon present during the 2023 presidential and gubernatorial elections in Lagos, Nigeria. The emergence of an Igbo, Peter Obi, as the presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party seemed to have fueled the feeling which peaked during the gubernatorial election. Igbos were reportedly identified, beaten and warned not to come out to cast their votes in the belief that they supported the Labour Party Gubernatorial candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who is part Yoruba (from his father's side) and part Igbo (from his mother's side). This study aims at establishing the reality or myth of Igbophobia as widely reported. Using the Sociological Model of voting behavior as theoretical framework, the research investigates the influence of ethnicity and religion in fueling this myth or fact of Igbophobia. The findings may serve as references to historians analyzing the elections for anti-Igbo sentiment. The study recommends that voting behaviour should be based on rational choice as an antidote against Igbophobia fueled by ethnicity and religion.