Politics
‘It’s A Waste Of Time’: Residents Boycott Ondo LG Polls
Apathy overshadowed Saturday’s local government elections in Ondo State, as many residents failed to participate in the electoral process, citing a lack of confidence in its impact.
Reports revealed that polling centers across the state recorded minimal activity.
In Okitipupa, residents were seen carrying on with their daily routines, with some staying indoors and others engaging in business as usual.
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Private and commercial vehicles, as well as motorcycles, moved freely on the roads, while a few traders kept their shops open.
Speaking to NAN, some residents attributed the low turnout to disillusionment with the electoral process and the government’s failure to address the country’s economic woes.
A commercial driver at the Okitipupa New Garage, who identified himself as Segun, explained his decision to abstain from voting.
“What have we gained from all the elections we have been participating in? Nothing but untold hardship and hunger. I no longer have interest in the process,” he said.
Another resident, Mr. Charles Ikuedowo, a commercial motorcyclist, highlighted the harsh economic realities as a major deterrent.
“There is serious hunger in the country. The only way out now is to work hard to feed our families. I can’t waste time voting,” he stated.
Madam Felicia Akingbaso, a beverage vendor, shared her frustration with the political system, describing the election as a waste of time.
“Politicians make big promises during campaigns, but once they win, they vanish. Participating in the election feels like a waste of time,” she lamented.
Yetunde, a charcoal dealer, also expressed her disappointment, saying:
“Going to the polling center to vote is a waste of time.”
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has promised to introduce a ₦500,000 monthly living minimum wage for Nigerian workers if elected president in 2027.
Sowore disclosed this in an interview with Independent Newspaper on Sunday, as he outlined his economic agenda ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
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He said the proposed wage would address the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers and reduce the gap between ordinary citizens and political office holders.
“We intend to change that fundamentally. We are proposing a ₦500,000 monthly living minimum wage because Nigerian workers cannot continue receiving starvation wages while senators, governors and political appointees consume millions every month,” Sowore said.
The AAC candidate said the wage proposal was part of a broader plan to ensure that Nigeria’s wealth benefits ordinary Nigerians.
He also promised to deliver 24-hour electricity, arguing that reliable power was necessary for economic growth and industrial development.
“We will deliver 24-hour electricity because no serious industrial economy can operate permanently on generators,” he said.
Sowore further pledged to make education free and accessible at all levels, construct one million public mixed-income homes, reform tenancy laws, improve healthcare and expand agricultural production and processing.
On the economy, he said his administration would focus on raising wages, reducing transportation and energy costs, supporting domestic manufacturing and agriculture, and investing in productive infrastructure.
“Economic policy must answer one basic question. Does it improve the material condition of the Nigerian people? If it does not, it has failed,” Sowore said.
He also promised an “uncompromising war against corruption” and vowed to recover public resources stolen by political office holders.
Sowore, who is contesting the presidency for the third time, said he believed AAC had a stronger chance in the 2027 election, with Nigerians serving as the party’s greatest strength.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has urged Nigerian Catholics to become more actively involved in politics ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that faith should extend beyond the church into the public square.
Fayemi made the call while delivering a lecture titled “Faith in Action: Empowering the Catholic Laity for Active Political Participation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections” at the September Plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Ede, Osun State.
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He argued that Christians should reject the notion that politics is inherently a “dirty game,” describing political participation as both a responsibility and an avenue to serve the common good.
According to him, Nigerian Catholics should register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards, study candidates and their programmes, participate in election monitoring, support credible candidates and hold elected officials accountable.
Fayemi also urged citizens to resist vote-buying, electoral violence and other forms of malpractice while assessing political programmes based on their impact on poverty, unemployment, education, healthcare, security, justice, families and vulnerable Nigerians.
He stressed the need for structured political formation within the Catholic Church, particularly for young people, covering areas such as Catholic Social Teaching, the Constitution, electoral laws, leadership ethics, human rights and media literacy.
The former governor, however, cautioned against turning the Church into an electoral machine for any political party, noting that Catholics could belong to different parties as long as their positions remained compatible with faith and moral principles.
Fayemi linked his own pro-democracy activism and public service to Catholic social engagement, citing initiatives implemented during his tenure as Ekiti governor, including free healthcare for the elderly, pregnant women and children, as well as monthly stipends for senior citizens.
He said the 2027 elections should be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, adding that the objective should not simply be to produce more Catholic politicians but to form politically conscious, morally courageous and competent Catholic citizens committed to the common good.
“Faith must not remain in the sanctuary,” Fayemi said, stressing that politics remains a noble vocation of service when approached with integrity and responsibility.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed Saturday, September 19, 2026, for by-elections to fill five vacant legislative seats across Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states.
INEC announced the date on Friday, saying voting would take place at polling units within the affected constituencies.
According to the commission, polling will open at 8:30am and close at 2:30pm on election day.
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The affected constituencies are the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State; Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano; Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi; and Udu State Constituency in Delta.
The five vacancies emerged under different circumstances.
In Gombe, the federal constituency seat became vacant following the death of its representative, Yaya Bauchi Tongo, who died in June 2026.
In Bauchi, the Sakwa seat became vacant following the death of its former occupant, while the lawmaker representing Disina resigned from the State House of Assembly to contest a chairmanship position.
The Udu constituency seat in Delta became vacant after its former representative, Collins Egbetamah, defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, prompting the state legislature to declare the seat vacant.
In Kano, the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency seat became vacant after its former representative, Rabiu Shuaibu, left the State Assembly to contest the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency election.
Shuaibu subsequently won the federal constituency by-election conducted in June, leaving his former state assembly seat vacant.
The September 19 exercise will therefore determine new representatives for the five constituencies.
The elections will also attract political attention as parties and candidates seek to consolidate their positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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