By Faduri Oluwadare Joseph
For a long time, I have chosen not to meddle in the political affairs of my home state, Osun. As someone from the opposition, I’ve sought to avoid being perceived as biased in the tussle between the two dominant parties — the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). But the recent show of shame between these two parties in the ongoing local government crisis demands that I speak up. What is happening is not just politics, it is a threat to democracy itself.
Democracy is meant to reflect the will of the people. It should be rooted in fairness, justice, and credibility. But what we are seeing in Osun State and across Nigeria, is a betrayal of these values. Our local government elections have become a caricature of democracy, a disgraceful display of manipulation and illegality.
APC and the Beginning of the Shame
Under the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola (APC), a local government election was conducted, but let us be clear, it was not an election in any democratic sense. The name of a valid political party, the Action People’s Party (APP), was missing from the ballot paper. Voters were given a simple “Yes or No” choice, not actual candidates. What kind of election is that?
This was not democracy; it was a stage-managed fraud. The APC government at the time imposed a process devoid of legitimacy and declared winners. That sham should never have stood. The eventual removal of those chairmen and councillors was necessary, but what followed under the PDP has proven no better.
PDP and the Jungle Election
Governor Ademola Adeleke came into office and swiftly sacked the APC-installed officials. He then organized his own “election”, but what followed was a jungle drama.
In some towns, ballot boxes were allegedly taken to the bush, where unknown individuals thumb-printed in secrecy. In many areas, voting reportedly concluded before 7:00 AM, how is that even possible? Some called it a kangaroo election, others an “emergency democracy.” But no serious democratic process would operate like that.
To make matters worse, the head of the Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Mr. Hashim Abioye, is a known PDP member and former House of Assembly aspirant. Can anyone seriously expect neutrality from such a figure?
Courts, Chaos, and Confusion
As if the elections weren’t chaotic enough, conflicting court rulings have now plunged the state into deeper confusion. The Court of Appeal in Akure and the Federal High Court in Osun have issued contradictory judgments over who should be in office. On June 13th, yet another unclear judgment was delivered, prompting both APC and PDP to rush to declare victory.
This confusion is dangerous. Already, lives have been lost in previous clashes over reinstatements. If nothing changes, more blood may be spilled.
Security agencies are failing to uphold neutrality and professionalism. The Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General are facing allegations of bias. The judiciary, too, must speak with clarity and act with integrity, their silence and ambiguity only fuel the chaos.
President Tinubu Must Act
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must not stand by in silence. This is beyond partisan politics. As the leader of this nation, he must rise above affiliations and intervene decisively. Democracy is on fire in Osun State, and inaction is no longer acceptable.
A Word to Governor Adeleke
Governor Adeleke, I urge you: do not take the law into your own hands. You are the executive, not the judiciary. Respect the courts, even in their confusion. Do not instruct chairmen or councillors to resume office without clear and final legal directives. Let the rule of law, not politics, guide your actions.
A Message to Security Agencies
Your loyalty is to the people of Nigeria — not to any political party. Protect our citizens. Uphold the law. Be fair. Be professional. We are watching.
A Call to Nigerians
Fellow Nigerians, this is a wake-up call.
We must reject Yes/No elections. We must denounce kangaroo voting and bush ballot boxes. We must demand real elections, free, fair, and credible.
This is not about APC or PDP. It is about our collective future. Until we fix our local government elections, we cannot build the New Nigeria we all dream of.
Let us rise. Let us speak out. Let us demand justice, transparency, and accountability. It is time to rescue our democracy, and time to rescue Nigeria.
And it all begins with everyone of us.
Enough is enough.
Faduri Oluwadare Joseph is the Founder, Rescue Movement for a New Nigeria
