By Murtala Adogi Mohammed |
From 2016 to 2021, while working with UNICEF’s Southwest Regional Office in Akure, I conducted a series of political economy analyses across the six Southwest states. Drawing on those insights, here are my reflections on the underlying forces that shaped the outcome of the just-concluded Osun election.
1. Public Sympathy in the Face of Federal Might – The deployment of federal influence and political pressure created the perception that Governor Adeleke and the people of Osun were under siege. This generated sympathy, strengthened local solidarity and transformed the election into resistance against external domination.
2. Davido’s Mobilising Influence – Davido brought cultural appeal, youth energy and exceptional crowd-pulling power, helping to transform political support into a popular movement.
3. The Courage of the Osun People – Voters demonstrated remarkable determination by resisting intimidation and protecting the integrity of their votes.
4. Grassroots Creativity – The people effectively deployed humour, music and satire to energise supporters, communicate political grievances and weaken the opposition’s narrative.
5. Strategic Project Commissioning – The commissioning of numerous projects before the election increased Adeleke’s visibility and reinforced the perception that his administration was delivering tangible results.
6. Strategic Team and Debate Preparation – Adeleke’s strategists refined his messaging, anticipated potential attacks and prepared him effectively for the debate. His performance exceeded public expectations and challenged the opposition’s narrative regarding his competence and leadership capacity.
7. Long-standing Affection for the Adeleke Family – The love was not only for Governor Ademola Adeleke; it reflected the deep and enduring affection that the people of Osun have had for the Adeleke family tẹ́lẹ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀—from way back. This historical goodwill strengthened the governor’s emotional connection with the electorate and provided a solid foundation of loyalty across generations.
One Key Lesson – Elections are not won by political might alone; they are won through public trust, emotional connection, strategic preparation, visible performance and the courage of a people determined to protect their mandate.
Murtala Adogi Mohammed is a PhD Governance Strategist | Policy Extrapreneur | Futurist. Founder & CEO System Strategy & Policy Lab.
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