A gathering of dignitaries, traditional rulers, labour leaders, security stakeholders, and community members turned into a celebration of leadership, destiny, and service as prominent personalities showered encomiums on the Corps Commander of the Osun Amotekun Corps, High Chief Dr. Hon. Adekunle Isaac Omoyele, during the public presentation and review of a book chronicling his life, leadership journey, and contributions to society. The colourful event, held amidst excitement and admiration from guests who came from different parts of Osun State and beyond, highlighted the impact of Dr. Omoyele’s service to humanity, his dedication to community development, and his role in strengthening the security architecture of Osun State through the Amotekun Corps. In his profoundly eloquent welcome address, Aree Olagunju Joseph, the esteemed Secretary of the Planning Committee, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the distinguished dignitaries and eminent personalities in attendance. He e...
For the first time since 1982, Bolivia is heading to a presidential run-off after no candidate secured an outright victory in the August 17, 2025, general election. The outcome marks the collapse of the long-dominant Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), which has ruled the country for nearly two decades.
The Candidates
Leading the race is Rodrigo Paz of the Christian Democratic Party, a centrist who has campaigned on anti-corruption and economic reform. He secured about 32–33% of the vote.
His main challenger will be Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, a right-wing former president under the Alianza Libre coalition, who captured around 26–27%.
Because no candidate crossed the legal threshold of either 50% of the vote, or 40% with a 10-point lead, a run-off has been scheduled for October 19, 2025.
Collapse of the MAS Era
The election signaled a stunning fall for MAS, the socialist party founded by former president Evo Morales. Its candidate, Eduardo del Castillo, won barely 3% of the vote, reflecting deep public anger over economic hardship and internal party divisions.
Morales, barred from running, urged supporters to spoil their ballots, leading to an unusually high 19% rate of null or blank votes.
Economic and Political Backdrop
Bolivia faces its worst economic crisis in decades, with inflation hovering around 25%, fuel shortages, and scarcity of U.S. dollars hitting households and businesses hard. Voters have grown disillusioned with both socialist governance and entrenched political elites, opening space for Paz’s centrist message.
What Comes Next
The October run-off will decide whether Bolivia turns toward a centrist reformist agenda under Paz or revisits a conservative path under Quiroga.
With MAS eliminated, its large voting base could either abstain, spoil ballots again, or swing the outcome if courted effectively.
The vote is being closely watched across Latin America, where leftist governments are facing growing backlash amid economic turbulence.
Bolivia’s political future now hangs on a second round that promises to reshape the nation’s direction after more than two decades of socialist dominance.
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