A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and convener of the Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has said the re-election of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, demonstrates that federal influence and political calculations in Abuja can no longer easily override the goodwill governors earn at the grassroots.
Showunmi, in a statement issued on Sunday, said the outcome of the Osun governorship election showed that voters were increasingly prioritising performance, accessibility and local realities over national political influence.
According to him, the election also signals a growing independence among Nigerian voters, with political endorsements alone becoming less capable of determining electoral outcomes.
He said the result had provided important lessons for political actors across the country, particularly on the changing dynamics of electoral politics in the South-West.
“The outcome of the Osun governorship election has once again demonstrated that the Yoruba people remain largely republican in outlook, but their democratic culture is steadily maturing,” Showunmi said.
He noted that voters were becoming increasingly resistant to what they perceived as political bullying or excessive use of power, adding that electorates could respond at the ballot box when they believed a candidate or political group was being unfairly pressured.
Showunmi further argued that governorship elections remained largely centred on the performance and popularity of the incumbent governor.
“Regardless of what happens in Abuja, a popular governor enjoys a significant advantage. Federal influence may matter, but it cannot easily override local goodwill earned through performance, accessibility, and public perception,” he stated.
The PDP chieftain congratulated Governor Adeleke on his victory, saying the result demonstrated that voters could reward service delivery despite political pressure from the centre.
He also cautioned political parties and their leaders against taking grassroots stakeholders for granted, stressing that political structures alone could not guarantee electoral success.
“Those who wield power within political parties without adequately carrying stakeholders along may discover, often too late, that party structures do not automatically translate into enthusiastic support,” he warned.
While assessing the broader implications of the election, Showunmi said political actors must recognise the increasing willingness of citizens to make independent electoral choices based on their convictions.
He, however, condemned the violence and loss of lives recorded during the election, describing such incidents as unacceptable in a democratic society.
“No political contest is worth the blood of any citizen. Those responsible for election-related violence must face the consequences of their actions,” Showunmi said.
He urged political leaders to promote peaceful and credible elections, stressing that political competition should never come at the expense of human lives.