Osun Poll: Ballot Revolution Against Dire Economic Situation In Nigeria —Ukpe

As accolades trail the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s opposition Accord Party (AP) in the just concluded governorship election in Osun State, erudite lawyer, Akanimo Victor Ukpe, has described the outcome of the contest as people’s reaction against the prevailing socio-economic hardship in the country.

The legal practitioner and principal of Aerius law firm, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, specialising in corporate and commercial litigation, who spoke to LEADERSHIP on Monday, noted that the outcome of the contest was “a test case of what to expect in 2027, if the economy falls to improve.”

According to Barr. Ukpe, a lot of misplaced priorities and undemocratic policies have been going on in the country’s political space, especially the sustained empowerment of politicians and friends of government at the detriment of the common people that constitute bulk of the electorates.

Therefore, ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general elections, the civil society advocate urged President Bola Tinubu, to look inward and relaxe some unpopular economic policies weighing down the common people, to avoid voter apathy against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), at the centre.

He noted that the circumstances of the moment could force the electorate to sway their votes in favour of the opposition coalition in 2027, and appealed to the President to ensure that “the common Nigerians feel the positive impacts of the “Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the federal government.”

He said, “Wishing the results coming out of Osun State will convince Mr President to make life easier for the ordinary Nigerians on the streets. Life has become so unbearable to the common people, and federal government under President Bola Tinubu has all it takes to correct the anomalies and breath new life into the system.

“Why should we have a leader that promised to change and restore things to affordable level and life is looking more unbearable and you are indifferent,? he querried

He applauded Governor Governor Adeleke for braving the odds to ensure the ruling APC becomes the opposition party in Osun.

“The reality is that it was going to be difficult bullying Ademola Adeleke out of power. A recurring testimony among the voters is how the man paid full salaries unlike his predecessors, cleared backlogs, paid pensions, etc. In spite of Federal might, the man is still standing.

“Ordinarily, Mr President’s goal should not be empowering the political elites alone, while expecting that they will be trickle down impact. He should directly reach out to the Nigerian people with quality and effective programmes directly impacting the people.

“I think Nigerians are the easiest to impress. Do the least things and they even make excuses for your excesses. Just make life easier. Get flights costs down, see how you can directly influence the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).- fuel and electricity prices to get them down as well as well as fixing infrastructure including roads,” he stressed.