The outcome of the Osun State governorship election has exposed the limits of political power and offered an early warning to parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, former All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, has said.
Frank said the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke showed that voters could frustrate political calculations when they were determined to defend their choices at the ballot box.
In a statement issued in Abuja, he said the Osun result should caution political leaders against assuming that government influence, campaign machinery or financial inducements could guarantee electoral victory.
For Frank, the bigger lesson from Osun is that **the electorate remains the decisive force in Nigerian politics.
“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,” he said.
He urged opposition parties to draw strategic lessons from Osun by putting aside their differences and building a coordinated platform ahead of 2027.
According to him, fragmented opposition forces would struggle to translate public discontent into electoral victory, while a united opposition could provide voters with a stronger alternative to the ruling APC.
Frank said voters must also change their approach to elections by becoming active participants throughout the voting and counting process.
He urged Nigerians to collect their voter cards, turn out on election day, remain at their polling units and ensure that their votes are counted and properly recorded.
“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.
He also praised Osun voters for what he called “political ingenuity,” particularly their ability to accept campaign inducements without necessarily allowing such inducements to determine their final choices.
“I commend the people of Osun for this new political ingenuity, where money is taken, yet still voted for the candidate of their choice,” Frank said.
He, however, urged citizens to remain peaceful and resist intimidation, stressing that electoral grievances should be pursued through lawful and democratic channels.
Frank also singled out music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, for commendation over his involvement in the Osun election.
He urged celebrities and young Nigerians to abandon political apathy and use their influence to promote voter participation and electoral accountability.
“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.
Congratulating Adeleke and the people of Osun, Frank said the election had demonstrated the importance of citizens participating actively in the democratic process.
He urged Nigerians to retain confidence in their ability to influence political outcomes through the ballot, insisting that political power ultimately belongs to the electorate.
“As we look towards 2027, let us remain peaceful, vigilant, informed, and determined,” he said.
Frank added: **“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 the real lesson from Osun was not simply who won the governorship election, but that **no political party should assume that it owns the electorate ahead of 2027.**