Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the ruling All Progressives Congress losing an election in the South-West under President Bola Tinubu demonstrates that Nigeria’s democracy is becoming stronger.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the remarks on Thursday while speaking at the seventh annual lecture organised by Freedom Online at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.
Referring to the recent Osun governorship election, Sanwo-Olu said the outcome showed that President Tinubu was committed to democratic principles and would not use federal power to prevent opposition parties from winning elections.
“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.”
Sanwo-Olu described Tinubu as a lifelong democrat and said the President’s leadership could help strengthen democratic institutions in Nigeria.
The Lagos governor said there was a time when the phrase “federal might” was commonly associated with attempts by ruling parties to influence electoral outcomes. However, he argued that allowing elections to be decided by voters was essential to building public confidence in democracy.
Sanwo-Olu also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure it was fully prepared for the 2027 general elections. He stressed that politicians, electoral institutions, voters and the media all had important roles to play in protecting the credibility of the electoral process.
He further warned politicians against violence and electoral malpractice, insisting that no political office or election victory was worth the life of any Nigerian.
The governor also urged the media to remain independent and hold political leaders accountable, regardless of their political affiliations.
Sanwo-Olu’s comments come as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with debates over electoral reforms, transparency and the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions expected to dominate political discussions.
