Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has described the recent Osun State governorship election as a wake-up call for Northern voters and other Nigerians whom he believes have become passive in exercising their voting rights.
In a post shared on X on Monday, Shehu argued that the election demonstrated how determined voters can resist political pressure, despite the resources and influence of those in power.
According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) entered the election with the full advantage of incumbency and deployed significant human and material resources in an effort to win.
“APC, its state, local and federal mights were not in Osun to lose elections but to prove their supremacy and take advantage of their incumbency at the federal level,” he wrote.
He claimed that the party left nothing to chance but said voters remained focused on what they wanted and refused to be influenced by inducements, intimidation or last-minute promises.
“They met a thick wall erected by voters who had defined what they wanted and nothing short of it, no matter the inducement, intimidation and afterthought last-minute empty promises,” he said.
Shehu also argued that if similar efforts had been directed at voters in parts of Northern Nigeria and the South-East, the outcome could have been different.
He alleged that many Northern voters are often influenced by sentiments and immediate needs, while describing many Southern voters as awake, alert, cautious and choosy in making electoral decisions.
He urged voters, particularly in the North, to reflect on the lessons from the Osun election and make future voting decisions based on their long-term interests.
“Hope Northern and other docile and timid voters will think, act, behave and vote wisely in their best interest,” he said.
Osun poll wake-up call for Northern voters – Mahdi Shehu