By Jeremiah Urowayino

Son of the late First Republic Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, has described the conduct of the Osun State governorship election as a victory for President Bola Tinubu’s belief in genuine democratic processes.

The election was won by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, AP, while the All Progressives Congress, APC, came second.

Okotie-Eboh said Tinubu’s non-interference in the process showed that the President is a true democrat and a political leader who fought for the sustenance of genuine democratic practice in Nigeria.

According to him, the President has put to shame members of the opposition who were waiting to accuse him of interfering in the election.

The statement reads: “It is a popular saying in our clime that when your neighbour’s child does something good and commendable, you should summon the courage to praise the child.

“This victory epitomises the triumph of the will of the people of Osun as it vindicates President Tinubu’s avowed belief in neutrality in the political chess game.

“After a deft assessment of the political landscape, Governor Adeleke, believing he had earned the goodwill of the people of Osun, decided to prove his critics wrong by pursuing and securing a second term through the relatively obscure Accord Party. He roundly defeated the APC’s anointed candidate, Bola Olubamiji, to the delight of the people of Osun.

“Most significant was the President’s non-interference in the keenly contested governorship election, allowing the best candidate to emerge victorious.

“The true democrat in Tinubu was first demonstrated during the days of the defunct NADECO. He not only fought against anti-democratic forces, risking his own life, but also ensured that the democracy he fought for was restored. Since then, he has continued to make genuine, deliberate and concrete efforts to sustain democracy in the country.

“That is why he has put all his detractors to shame with the outcome of the Osun State governorship election. Tinubu has once again demonstrated his administrative acumen by giving the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the much-needed independence to conduct a free and fair election, one that even surprised members of his own party, the APC.

“The President deserves another term in office, considering the critical national policy programmes he has initiated and is implementing across the country, all of which need to be pursued to their logical conclusion for the nation to move forward.

“Truly, the challenges inherited by the Tinubu administration are undoubtedly daunting, and it takes the heart of a skilled, focused and determined leader to confront them head-on, regardless of whose interests may be bruised in the effort to pull the nation out of its economic doldrums.

“The insecurity challenge has necessitated a massive shake-up and continuous restructuring of the nation’s security architecture, alongside improved welfare packages to boost the morale, efficiency and effectiveness of our security personnel.

“It must be noted that these security challenges are fuelled by fifth columnists, moneybags, foreign interests and saboteurs, including some within the security establishment, thereby compounding the government’s efforts.

“Projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway are intended to unlock massive economic growth and deepen social interaction among Nigerians.

“The removal of fuel subsidy, which has brought some level of sanity to the oil and gas industry, is still giving some people nightmares. With the restructuring of the upstream and downstream sectors through the involvement of private sector experts, the Nigerian economy has improved significantly.

“About $53 trillion has been saved, as recently revealed, while major financial recoveries are also being reported by several government agencies. These are no mean achievements.

“For these legacy projects, programmes and policies to endure and be consolidated, there must be continuity in Tinubu’s administration, where appointments based on expertise, merit and excellence, placing square pegs in square holes, will help lift the country to the level expected of a nation richly endowed with oil and gas resources.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State has stated that the recent governorship election in Osun State has strengthened its determination to challenge the power of incumbency in the 2027 general elections.

The party’s governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Dr David Ombugadu, said the outcome of the Osun election had shown that political power ultimately belonged to the people and could not be secured through incumbency or political alliances alone.

Ombugadu spoke on Thursday after the party’s state congress at the PDP secretariat in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

He said the 2027 election would be driven by voters, who he expected to come out, cast their ballots and protect their votes.

“The Osun State election is proof that it is not going to be business as usual. The 2027 election is not about the power of the sitting governor, but about the power of the people,” Ombugadu said.

He added that voters would not allow a repeat of what happened during the 2023 elections.

Ombugadu said the PDP’s structure in Nasarawa remained strong despite the movement of some members to other political parties.

He recalled that the party won nine seats in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly in 2023 but currently has seven lawmakers after two members left the party.

According to him, the party is determined to increase its representation and win all 24 state Assembly seats, alongside the governorship election, in 2027.

Also speaking, the PDP state chairman, Dr Daniel Gimba, said the Osun election had demonstrated that financial influence could not permanently determine voters’ choices.

Gimba said the party was encouraged by what he described as growing political awareness among Nigerians.

“It has come to a time now that the masses are fully aware that money cannot change their will,” he said.

He urged voters to cast their ballots, protect them and ensure that their choices were reflected in the final results.

The PDP chairman also said the party was receiving new members from other political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), contrary to claims that it was losing members.

“We are fully prepared and well-strategised for the 2027 elections. All we need is a peaceful and enabling environment where the people can come out, cast their votes and have their will protected,” Gimba said.

He added that the party would set up a reconciliation committee to move across the various zones and resolve grievances arising from the recent primaries.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said that every presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections must be willing to defend their credentials, records and subject their vision to open scrutiny.

Obi said this on Friday at a world press conference in his home in Onitsha, Anambra State.

While highlighting the need for empathy, the former Anambra Governor promised to visit communities affected by insecurity and flooding to understand their concerns.

He mentioned his core mission to include resettling of Nigeria through national unity, improved security, and transitioning the economy from consumption to production.

“Every candidate must be willing to defend their credentials, defend their records, and subject their vision to open scrutiny.

“True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without standing with the communities across Nigeria devastated by banditry, criminality, terrorism, or flooding,” he said.