The Yoruba Union, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has described the outcome and conduct of the Osun State Governorship election as a clear indication that Nigerians are increasingly tired of the Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration and are prepared to resist intimidation, harassment and arbitrary arrests ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá said the Osun election had provided a blueprint for Nigerians and the international community, demonstrating that voters could resist political intimidation and reject a Government they believed had failed to improve their living conditions.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, signed by its Convener, Olusola Badero, and released through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the Yoruba Union said the massive turnout of voters despite intimidation and harassment showed that Nigerians were becoming more politically conscious and determined to exercise their democratic rights.
The Group said the election was evidence that the APC Government had failed Nigerians and that voters were increasingly prepared to use their votes to remove politicians and political parties they believed had failed them.
The Yoruba Union said, “The Osun election is a blueprint that shows to the world that the APC Government is a failure and that people are ready to vote against the APC Government.”
It added that the willingness of Osun voters to come out and participate in the election despite threats and harassment was a sign that Nigerians were becoming more aware of their political power.
“It is a sign that Nigerians’ consciousness has been awakened and they have been enlightened and liberated from the primitive style of politics,” Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá said.
The Organization further linked the decision of voters to the worsening economic conditions in the country, accusing the Tinubu administration’s economic policies of deepening hardship, unemployment, hunger and depression among Nigerians.
“People are living in fears, hunger and depression. It has killed people. People lost their jobs, families departed because Tinubu’s worse economic reform and economic hardship that have been institutionalized. The only option Osun people have is to vote against APC,” the group said.
The Yoruba Union also stated that the Osun election demonstrated the independent-minded nature of the Yoruba people, saying voters in the state were capable of making political decisions based on what they believed would benefit their communities rather than relying on political parties or individuals.
“Yoruba people are wise and independent. They never depend on anyone before they made their decision that will favour their people. This is what Osun people did,” Yoruba Union said.
The group said the Osun election should serve as a warning to the APC and other political actors who, it noted, believed that money, intimidation or the influence of Government institutions could guarantee electoral victory.
Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá said Osun voters had proved that financial inducements could not necessarily determine the outcome of an election when citizens were determined to vote according to their conscience.
The organisation said, “Osun people have proved to Nigerians that this country can be liberated. Despite how APC spent money, Osun people collected their money and voted against them.”
According to the Yoruba Union, the development should encourage Nigerians across the country to unite and use the power of their votes to challenge political leaders who have failed to address insecurity, unemployment, poverty and other socioeconomic challenges.
Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá urged Nigerians to put aside ethnic, religious and other differences and work together to defeat politicians it accused of making life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens.
“Yoruba Union urged Nigerians to unite and speak with one voice in order to defeat those who have made life difficult for people to live, vote against those who failed to end insecurity in their various states,” they said.
The Organization further explained that the Osun election had demonstrated that the APC could be defeated at the polls if Nigerians united and remained determined to protect their votes.
It said the development should serve as a warning to President Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“If Osun people can defeat APC, it is a clear indication that Nigerians can defeat Tinubu and APC in 2027,” the Yoruba Union said.
The Organization called on Nigerians to remain vigilant, participate actively in elections and resist attempts to disenfranchise voters through intimidation, harassment or arbitrary arrests.
It also urged Nigerians to ensure that their votes count in future elections, describing the Osun election as evidence that citizens still possess the power to determine the political direction of the country through the ballot.
The Yoruba Union said the events in Osun should not be viewed merely as a state-level political development but as a broader message from Nigerian voters to the ruling party and political leaders ahead of 2027.
According to the Organization, the election has shown that Nigerians are becoming increasingly conscious of their constitutional power to change Governments through democratic elections and that political parties can no longer take voters for granted.