Senator Ajibola Basiru, the representative for Osun Central and spokesperson for the ninth Senate, told TOPE OMOGBOLAGUN that he will not challenge his loss to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate at the tribunal. “I won’t go to court,” he said, adding that he chooses to move on despite the election being neither free nor fair. Basiru cited voter intimidation, suppression, harassment and the snatching of ballot boxes in strongholds such as Ila, Boripe and Orolu Local Government Areas. He acknowledged numerous inadequacies but explained that, for him, politics is about service, not litigation. He warned that the electoral justice system’s fault lines—requiring proof beyond reasonable doubt—encourage electoral heists, and he hopes Nigerian law will evolve to eliminate such practices.
When asked about his next steps, Basiru emphasized his professional background in politics and his desire to contribute to society beyond court battles. Over the past three years, he claims to have delivered visible capital projects—including schools, rural electrification and water initiatives—that have impacted many lives. He intends to continue making meaningful contributions in both public and private spheres.
Regarding the Electoral Act, Basiru acknowledged its importance but noted that it is only one piece of the legal framework governing elections. He pointed out that the Evidence Law still demands a high threshold of proof, making it difficult to establish electoral crimes. Judicial decisions require allegations to be proven on a unit‑by‑unit basis, a daunting task given Nigeria’s roughly 176,000 polling units (1,392 in Osun Central) and the 14‑day window for challenges. While improvements such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) have been introduced, Basiru observed that BVAS machines were bypassed, over‑voting occurred, and some officials allegedly added extra ballot papers to inflate results in opposition strongholds. He described these tactics as deliberate ploys to undermine election outcomes.
Basiru stressed that the election was far from free and fair, citing voter intimidation, ballot‑box snatching and a breakdown of law and order. He called for politicians to stop treating politics as a “do or die” affair and condemned the violence and brigandage unleashed by the PDP in Osun. Expanding his view, he noted both positive and negative trends in the national elections. Positively, the atmosphere of violence and intimidation appears to be receding, suggesting a future where votes truly count. Negatively, he warned that religious and ethnic fault lines are becoming more pronounced, with voting patterns increasingly driven by identity rather than performance. He cited examples from the South‑East, where APC candidates received far fewer votes than local party leaders, indicating that ethnicity often outweighs track records.
On the issue of monetary policy and vote‑buying, Basiru argued that limiting cash did not curb voter inducement. Credit cards, food items and direct transfers were used to sway voters, even before election day. He concluded that the cash‑scarcity policy failed to prevent vote‑buying and instead inflicted hardship on Nigerians. He also called for President Muhammadu Buhari to liberalise the oil and gas sector and remove subsidies before the end of his administration, citing fuel scarcity as another election‑time problem.
Regarding the legal challenge filed by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi against Tinubu’s victory, Basiru refrained from predicting the outcome, noting his lack of prophetic ability and potential bias as an APC member. As a legal practitioner, he observed numerous flaws in the petition, including typographical errors and political rather than legal arguments, suggesting that the suit may struggle in court.
Finally, Basiru dismissed the notion of a “Labour Party tsunami,” pointing out that the party secured only seven of 109 Senate seats and that several of those winners were former APC or PDP members who switched parties after failing to obtain tickets. He argued that the Labour Party functioned more as a vehicle for Peter Obi’s ambitions than a genuine mass movement, noting the lack of sustained support for the party’s gubernatorial and legislative candidates. He criticized the reliance on manipulated polls and the claim that youths overwhelmingly backed Obi, asserting that the reality on the ground contradicted such narratives.
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