Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has described Governor Ademola Adeleke's victory in the Osun State governorship election as a direct signal to President Bola Tinubu about what Nigerians can deliver at the polls in 2027. Speaking from Abuja, Frank said the election demonstrated that citizens can stand their ground against political pressure when they choose to protect their votes.
Frank's Warning to President Tinubu
Frank, who currently serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, emphasized that the outcome of the Osun poll should not be underestimated. He stated that President Tinubu may believe he already has his election results in mind, but ultimately, it is the Nigerian people who will decide his fate through the power of their votes.
"President Tinubu may think he already has his election results in mind, but ultimately, it is the Nigerian people who will decide his fate through the power of their votes," Frank said. He argued that the Osun result is a clear indication that Nigerians are capable of resisting political manipulation and asserting their will at the ballot box.
Call for Opposition Unity
Frank urged opposition parties to present a coordinated front before the 2027 general elections. He contended that a divided opposition would hand the ruling APC an advantage it does not deserve. According to Frank, unity among opposition forces is essential to challenge the APC effectively in the next electoral cycle.
He also called on Nigerians to go beyond simply casting their votes, insisting that voters must remain at polling units until results are tallied and verified. "Let 2027 not be business as usual. They must vote, stay, and see their votes counted, just as they have done in Osun," he said.
Praise for Osun Voters and Davido
Frank praised Osun voters for what he called political ingenuity, noting that many accepted money from vote buyers but still voted according to their own conscience. He commended this behavior as a new form of political awareness, adding that the money taken from vote buyers ultimately belongs to the citizens, as it was sourced from government coffers.
Frank also singled out music star David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, for commendation. He said Davido demonstrated a genuine commitment to electoral integrity during the Osun poll and urged other Nigerian celebrities and young people to follow that example. "Going into 2027, I call on Nigerian youths and celebrities alike to borrow a leaf from Davido, as this is not the time to sit on the fence. Nigeria belongs to all of us," he said.
Congratulatory Message and PDP's Response
Wrapping up his statement, Frank congratulated Governor Adeleke, his supporters, and the people of Osun State, saying their participation had reinforced the idea that political power belongs to ordinary citizens. "The time has come for Nigerians to believe again. The time has come for the people to rise, vote, and protect their votes. The time has come to choose wisely," he said.
Previously, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described Adeleke's victory as a preview of what Nigerians will deliver to the APC at the polls in 2027. In a press statement signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party's National Publicity Secretary, the PDP said the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) represented a clear rejection of what it called the APC's full-scale rigging operation in the state.
