The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State has declared that the outcome of the Osun State governorship election dismantled the widespread narrative that votes no longer count in Nigeria.
IPAC Lagos Chairman, Mrs. Temilola Akinade, made the assessment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Akinade, who also serves as the Lagos State Chairman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), described the election as a positive milestone for the country’s democratic development.
“We are happy that the election was peaceful, free and fair. It reflected the wishes of the people,” Akinade said. “Another lesson we learnt from this election is that the general belief nowadays that votes do not count is wrong; votes actually count. The Osun election outcome cancelled and nullified this belief and narrative. We must not give up in our efforts to make our democracy better and stronger.”
She emphasized that sovereignty resides with the people and cannot be usurped when citizens actively participate in the electoral process. According to Akinade, widespread voter turnout and the determination of the electorate to protect their ballots make Elections significantly harder to manipulate, contrasting sharply with scenarios marked by voter apathy.
While welcoming the credibility of the final result, the IPAC leader expressed sadness over reported incidents of violence and killings during the pre-election period. She called on citizens to consistently exercise their franchise in future elections, stressing that sustained civic engagement remains the most effective safeguard for democratic integrity.
