Residents of Osun State and concerned activists took to the streets of Osogbo today to protest alleged plans to impose candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The demonstrators marched peacefully through the state capital, carrying placards and chanting slogans as they demanded a fair and open candidate selection process.
Many insisted that voters must be allowed to freely choose candidates without interference from party leaders. Chanting “Our Choice Must Be Respected,” the crowd rejected what they described as hand-picked candidates being forced on the people.
Some protesters said the last election showed why the issue matters. According to them, once some elected officials emerge, they become inaccessible to the people who voted them in.
“They abandon their electorate immediately after winning. People in their local governments, federal constituencies, and senatorial districts are left without representation,” one protest leader said. “This time around, we want leaders who will listen to the masses during and after the election.”
The protesters argued that the era of imposition must end because it is the people, not party leaders, who own the vote in a general election.
“The era of imposing aspirants over others is over. We don’t want any imposition. We want our best candidate to represent us,” another protest leader said.
The demonstrators also appealed directly to Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and ensure that political parties and stakeholders maintain a transparent process ahead of the elections.
“We are here today to appeal to the Governor and Accord leaders that we don’t want imposition. They should please honor the will of the masses,” they said.
The protesters stressed that only qualified candidates should be allowed to contest, arguing that leadership should be based on competence, accessibility, and public acceptance.
“We just want our best candidate—someone who can help this state move to a higher level. We need more development, better leadership, and leaders who will remain accountable to the people,” a participant said.
They added that candidate imposition weakens democracy and prevents citizens from having a real voice in choosing their leaders.
The protest remained peaceful as residents continued to express their demands across different parts of Osogbo.
