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Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, has expressed confidence that the party will win the governorship election by a wide margin, declaring that it would prevail “no matter what the ruling party does.”
Sowunmi-Kolapo, a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), former editor with The Punch and Publisher of The Point, spoke on the sidelines of the ongoing All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu, yesterday.
She spoke against the backdrop of a paper, “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts,” delivered by former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN).
Sowunmi-Kolapo said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had much to do ahead of the 2027 elections to strengthen confidence in the process and reduce post-election litigation.
According to her, transparent elections would make it easier for contestants to accept defeat, as many election petitions arose from allegations of unfairness and manipulation.
“When elections become very transparent, most participants usually accede to defeat. Most post-election litigations arise from alleged unfairness and fraud at the polls,” she said.
She maintained that the PDP would win the Ogun election “by a wide margin no matter what the ruling party does,” adding that the party was not afraid of litigation should any arise after the poll.
Sowunmi-Kolapo said the 2027 elections would go beyond being a test for INEC and the Judiciary, arguing that they would have wider implications for public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
“INEC and the courts must weigh the implications of any intentional denial at the polls. Most Nigerians have lost interest in the elections, but 2027 will determine whether there will be participatory democracy or none again in the country.
“Nigerians are wiser. The youth have come of age and are poised to see that the right thing is done.
“In Ogun State, we are not just campaigning, we are educating people on their rights to vote, protect their votes and resist intimidation by those who are not even true stakeholders like them.
“The media also have a huge role to play in advocacy to ensure that the right thing is done,” she said.
The deputy governorship candidate dismissed suggestions that there would be no real contest in some states, insisting that the Ogun election would be keenly contested.
“The PDP will emerge victorious,” she declared.
“Our people in Ogun State are ready and will do everything lawful to ensure that their votes count in 2027, and they will count.”
