Copy Osun’s resilience, nothing can stop determined voters – NNPP scribe to Nigerians

Dipo Olayoku, the National Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has urged Nigerians to learn from the voters of Osun state ahead of the 2027 elections. Speaking during a programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Olayoku highlighted the resilience of Osun voters who defeated intimidation, federal pressure, and vote-buying to secure a victory for Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party.

Olayoku emphasized that a united and determined electorate can overcome any obstacles in the electoral process. He pointed out that Osun has a history of rejecting godfather politics and consistently demonstrating the power of a strong, united voter base. According to Olayoku, if people are united in their convictions, no external pressure can sway their opinions. This resilience, he argued, is a lesson for 2027 and beyond.

While lauding the efforts of the voters, Olayoku cautioned that merely casting a vote is not sufficient. He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant at polling and collation centers until their votes are officially counted and reflected in the results. Despite praising the voters, Olayoku criticized the use of dirty tactics during the election, citing allegations of intimidation, violence, vote-buying, and political interference.

One of the most concerning issues, according to Olayoku, was the freezing of an Osun State Government account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) shortly before the poll. Although President Bola Tinubu later ordered the account unfrozen, Olayoku questioned why no action was taken against those who allegedly offered money to voters in exchange for their votes.

He also highlighted the intimidation faced by supporters of the Accord Party, alleging that the APC tried to stop Osun people from exercising their right to vote freely.

Olayoku emphasized that the true lesson from the Osun election is the resilience of the people, not just the outcome of the vote. He urged Nigerians to replicate Osun's example in 2027 by protecting their votes from the moment they are cast at the polling unit until they are collated. "What people are praising is the resilience of the people of Osun," he stated. "That’s the lesson from Osun election. Anything could have happened going by what APC did before the election."