A member representing the 7th District of the Albany County Legislature, New York, Hon. Beroro Efekoro has said the outcome of the Osun State governorship election demonstrated the determination of residents, particularly youths, to defend their votes and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

Efekoro, while reflecting on the election, said the people of Osun State had shown that Nigerians could actively participate in the democratic process and resist attempts to manipulate their votes.

He, however, said the election also exposed serious threats to Nigeria’s democracy, including alleged voter intimidation, vote buying and the use of government institutions in ways that could undermine the electoral process.

According to him, residents, especially youths, went to the polls determined to elect their preferred leader and remained resolute in protecting their votes.

“The residents of Osun State, especially the youth, demonstrated to the whole world what is meant to be patriotic. They went out determined to elect their leader and remained resolute in defending their votes,” he said.

Efekoro said the development offered hope that a better Nigeria was possible, but added that the events surrounding the election also presented important lessons for the country.

He said there were incidents in the days preceding the election that, in his view, had the potential to jeopardise the exercise and further weaken confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.

“In the same week of the election, a serving senator took to the podium to promulgate the killing of members of the President’s main opposition party in the state,” he alleged.

Efekoro also raised concerns over the freezing of the state government’s accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during the election week.

He said the accounts were used to pay workers’ salaries and claimed that President Bola Tinubu later intervened to have them unfrozen.

“The president had to step in to unfreeze the accounts, probably because the publicity around the issue was becoming a national embarrassment for him,” he said.

On election day, August 15, Efekoro alleged that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were seen distributing cash to prospective voters in some wards.

He cited Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, which prohibits vote buying and prescribes penalties for electoral offences.

Efekoro questioned claims by some individuals that Tinubu should be credited for allowing the Osun election to be free and fair.

“Some individuals have credited President Bola Tinubu for allowing Osun State to have a free and fair election. That makes you wonder, what exactly is free and fair about election violence, voter intimidation, and vote buying?” he asked.

He said the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke should principally be attributed to the people of Osun State who participated in the election and defended their votes.

Efekoro also faulted the decision to credit the President for the conduct of the election, arguing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was constitutionally expected to operate independently.

“One would want to congratulate the Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, for a hard-fought victory. But that resounding victory and the joy in the people’s hearts was short-lived when the governor, maybe out of fear of the unknown, decided to credit President Bola Tinubu for ensuring a free and fair election.

“The president did not ensure a free and fair election; the people endeavoured for it. Osun State residents, especially the youth, were determined to defend their votes and made it difficult for any manipulation of the results,” he said.

He also commended INEC for what he described as one of its best performances, particularly in the electronic transmission of election results.

According to him, the role of the electoral commission should remain independent of political control.

“If the Osun State election was a test of Nigeria’s democracy, then Nigeria’s democracy is a failure,” Efekoro said.

He, however, acknowledged that the determination of voters to protect their ballots and INEC’s handling of the electronic transmission of results were positive developments.

He stressed that these achievements should not overshadow alleged infractions and other shortcomings recorded during the electoral process.

“The fact the people defended their votes and INEC were excellent with the electronic transmission of the election result does not erase all the atrocities committed in the electoral process,” he said.

Efekoro urged authorities to ensure that individuals who violate electoral laws or misuse legitimate institutions for unlawful purposes are held accountable.

“Nigeria is no longer a baby and can do better. Individuals have to be held accountable for their actions. Those who used legitimate institutions to carry out illegitimate acts must face the consequences of their actions. That is how democracy is made stronger,” he said.