Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has praised President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to democratic principles, saying the outcome of the recent Osun State governorship election demonstrated that the ruling party could lose an election without undermining the democratic process.
Sanwo-Olu spoke on Thursday at the seventh annual lecture organised by Freedom Online at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, where he discussed Nigeria’s democracy, electoral reforms and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
He cited the August 15 Osun governorship election, in which incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, by more than 60,000 votes, as evidence of what he described as the Federal Government’s commitment to democratic processes.
Tinubu had congratulated Adeleke following the election, describing his victory as a “fitting assurance” that democracy would continue to flourish under his administration.
The President also held a closed-door meeting with Adeleke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja days after the election and urged him to work towards uniting the state.
Sanwo-Olu said the development represented a departure from the period when opposition parties were often perceived as having little chance of defeating the ruling party, particularly in elections involving the Federal Government.
“There was a time in this country when ‘federal might’ was a phrase that a ruling party used without irony,” he said.
“Under this President, the ruling party can lose a state in the South-West in an election year, and the sky does not fall. That is what a maturing democracy looks like.”
The governor described Tinubu as a lifelong democrat who, according to him, was determined to leave behind a stronger democratic system.
“This President is a lifelong democrat, and he means to leave behind a stronger democracy than he inherited, not only for Nigerians but as an example to a continent that badly needs one,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Sanwo-Olu Calls for Electoral Preparedness
The Lagos governor said Nigeria’s electoral system had recorded notable improvements through measures such as the Electoral Act 2022, the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026 and the increasing use of technology for voter accreditation, verification and transmission of election results.
He, however, stressed the need for further preparations to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission is fully equipped for the 2027 elections.
“INEC must be ready in every polling unit on the 16th of January and again on the 6th of February, and each of us has a duty to help it be ready,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to respect the electoral process and avoid actions capable of triggering violence.
He warned that political ambition should never take precedence over the safety and lives of Nigerians.
“A mandate is only as strong as the process that produced it. No office in this land is worth the life of a single Nigerian and no victory won by the wrong means is a victory at all,” he said.
Governors’ Performance to Matter in 2027
Sanwo-Olu also said the performance of state governors would be a major factor in the 2027 elections, noting that voters would judge political leaders based on their records in office.
He argued that citizens could assess the impact of government policies and projects in their communities regardless of their level of formal education or knowledge of economic statistics.
“Voters may not be economists, but they are excellent accountants. They know whether their State built the road it promised. They know whether the primary health centre has a nurse in it. They will bring that ledger with them to the polling unit,” he said.
According to him, the 2027 elections would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to assess the performance of governments at both state and federal levels.
Governor Tasks Media on Accountability
The governor also challenged the media to maintain its watchdog role ahead of the 2027 elections, urging journalists to scrutinise political actors and hold them accountable regardless of their political affiliations.
Sanwo-Olu said the media must not become an extension of any political party, including his own APC.
“I am not asking for a compliant press,” he said.
“A compliant press is of no use to a democracy; it flatters the powerful and abandons the public.”
He urged journalists to verify information and expose false claims, including those made by politicians and groups with which they might share political affiliations.
“I am asking for a rigorous press. Check the facts, mine included. Call out disinformation wherever it comes from, including from my own side,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He warned that misinformation and disinformation could become increasingly difficult to contain ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly with the growing use of anonymous social media accounts and manipulated audiovisual content.
“In the weeks ahead, the most dangerous lies will not come from newspapers. They will come from anonymous accounts and doctored videos and you are the institution best placed to answer them,” he said.
