by Uchechukwu Okoroafor, Abuja
The people of Osun State deserve commendation for demonstrating remarkable courage, resilience and determination in defending their democratic mandate. In the face of allegations of killings, intimidation, harassment, and political pressure, the people went to the polls and reaffirmed their choice by re-electing Governor Ademola Adeleke of the opposition ACCORD.
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The significance of the Osun experience goes beyond the victory of one governor or one political party. It is a powerful reminder that, in a democracy, political power ultimately belongs to the people—not to the government at the centre, not to political godfathers and certainly not to security or state institutions that may be deployed for partisan purposes.
The people of Osun have shown that intimidation cannot permanently silence citizens who are determined to exercise their constitutional right to choose their leaders. Their resilience should therefore become a case study for Nigerians who believe that democratic power must remain with the electorate.
What happened in Osun should also compel the opposition parties to study carefully how the people resisted attempts to alter their political choice. The lesson is clear: a determined electorate, properly organised and vigilant, can protect its mandate even when confronted by enormous political and institutional pressure.
The Osun example is particularly important as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election. Nigerians across the country should understand that defending democracy does not mean supporting a particular political party. It means insisting that every vote must count, that electoral institutions must remain independent, that security agencies must protect voters rather than intimidate them, and that elected governments must be held accountable.
The 2027 election should therefore be treated as an opportunity for Nigerians to demand accountability from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over its record in government since 2015 and, more specifically, over the policies and performance of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during its first three years.
Where governments have performed well, voters should have no difficulty rewarding them. Where they have failed, voters should equally have the freedom to replace them peacefully through the ballot box.
This is the essence of democracy.
The Osun experience has demonstrated that political parties may possess enormous resources, influence and institutional advantages, but the ultimate power of the ballot remains with citizens. The people must therefore refuse to surrender that power through fear, apathy or political intimidation.
The challenge now is for Nigerians in every state to replicate the positive aspects of the Osun template: massive voter participation, vigilance at polling units, protection of electoral mandates, peaceful resistance to intimidation, independent monitoring of the electoral process and a collective determination to make every vote count.
But this must be done peacefully and within the law. Democracy cannot be defended by reproducing the violence that threatens it.
The people of Osun have sent a message that should resonate throughout Nigeria: government belongs to the people, and political leaders serve at the pleasure of the electorate.
As 2027 approaches, Nigerians should remember this lesson. The ballot is more powerful when citizens use it collectively, intelligently and courageously.
Osun has shown the way. The rest of Nigeria should learn from it.
Power belongs to the people. And in a democracy, the people must never be afraid to use that power.
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