LESSONS FROM OSUN GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

 The governorship election in Osun State was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the 16th July, 2022. 

The incumbent Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola lost to the dancing senator, Ademola Adeleke by about 28,000 votes.

The conduct of of the election by INEC  was adjudged by observers as a marked improvement over previous exercises conducted by them.

There are some lessons that we can learn from the exercise.

YOUR VOTE COUNTS. As a result of the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by INEC, and uploading of the results from the polling units, voters and politicians alike now know that votes will count and the problem of overvoting has been addressed. One vote now counts as one vote. 

INSTANT UPLOAD OF RESULT SHEETS FROM POLLING UNITS. As a result of the uploading of results from the polling units, which is accessible to anyone who has internet access and is signed in on the INEC results page, the possibility of tampering with results at collation centres have been eliminated.

CONFIDENCE IN RESULTS. As a result of the improvements made by INEC, the results announced will have more general acceptability and the possibility of unnecessary litigation has been brought to the barest minimum.

NO REWARD FOR POOR PERFORMANCE. The Osun people have come out with one voice to make their choice based on their assessment of the performance of the incumbent Governor. They have told him unanimously that they were not happy with his performance in his first tenure. This should be a warning to other office holders. As voters realise that they have the powers to vote out non-performing office holders, your only guarantee of returning to office is by fulfilling your campaign promises.

PERSEVERANCE PAYS. This is the story of Ademola Adeleke, the dancing Senator. Despite the disappointment he had in his previous attempt, he didn't give up and has been the biggest beneficiary of an inept leadership and improved election process.

2023 may not be about parties, but about people, for or against.

 

#INEC, #ADELEKE, #OSUNELECTION, #OSUN, #OYETOLA