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Bow to the Will of Osun People or Face Democratic Resistance” — Adeleke Campaign Fires Warning Ahead of August 15 Poll

Oriontimes Political Desk| April 11, 2026  The Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation has issued a stern warning to Gboyega Oyetola and Bola Oyebamiji, urging them to respect the will of the Osun electorate ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The campaign said it had uncovered what it described as “leaked threats” by some top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), allegedly plotting to incite post-election chaos should Governor Ademola Adeleke secure victory at the polls. According to the organisation, the alleged conversation among APC leaders reflects both internal frustration and an admission that Adeleke is poised to win the election by a margin exceeding 200,000 votes. While acknowledging what it termed the “electoral anxiety” within APC ranks, the campaign condemned any attempt to undermine the democratic process, warning against what it described as a “dangerous descent into political delusion.” The statement further challenged Oyetola and Oyebamiji to acce...
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10 Bills That Can Reopen Nigeria’s Corridors of Power to Young Elites”

 




"For too long, the political system has sidelined young Nigerians. These reforms can create real pathways for the next generation of leaders to lead, innovate, and transform governance."



In recent election cycles, it has become clear that young elites in Nigeria are increasingly sidelined from politics. High nomination fees, exposure to political violence, and opaque party structures have made active participation risky and frustrating. Even opposition and third-force parties, the so-called alternatives are not engineered by young Nigerians, demonstrating that the youth remain the last option in governance.





Meanwhile, market women and other non-traditional actors often dominate the political scene, leaving talented, educated young Nigerians with little real influence.

To reverse this trend, it is crucial to introduce legislation that levels the playing field, protects candidates, and creates genuine pathways for youth leadership. 




Below are 10 bills that can empower young elites to reclaim their place in Nigeria’s corridors of power.




1. Political Campaign Finance Regulation Bill


Caps nomination fees and campaign expenses to remove financial barriers for young aspirants.



2. Youth Inclusion and Representation Bill


Mandates a minimum percentage of political appointments and party tickets for citizens under 40.



3. Electoral Security and Protection Bill



Establishes a robust framework to protect candidates and voters from violence, thuggery, and intimidation.



4. Independent Candidacy Strengthening Bill



Fully legalizes and operationalizes independent candidacy, allowing credible individuals to contest without party control.



5. Political Party Internal Democracy Reform Bill



Ensures transparent primaries, digital voting, and equal access within all political parties.



6. Youth Political Participation Fund Bill



Provides regulated financial support to young candidates through grants or low-interest loans.



7. Electoral Offences and Accountability Bill



Strengthens punishment for vote buying, election manipulation, and political violence, making politics safer and more credible.

Digital Voting and 


8. Electoral Transparency Bill



Introduces secure electronic voting and real-time result transmission to reduce manipulation.



9. Political Mentorship and Leadership Development Bill



Institutionalizes internships, legislative fellowships, and structured mentorship programs for aspiring leaders.



10. Recall and Performance Accountability Reform Bill



Simplifies the process of removing underperforming leaders and introduces digital performance tracking dashboards for elected officials.



Final thought


Until these reforms are enacted, Nigeria risks losing another generation of capable leaders to apathy, pseudo-activism, and content creation, leaving governance to those willing to play by the old rules. The time has come to give young elites not just a voice, but a clear pathway to lead, govern, and transform the nation.


Abioye Tosin Lawrence, Publisher of Oriontimes Online Newspaper.

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