Osun 2026: Parade of Paradox and Parody of Politics

Democracy, even from its ancient Greek origins, has been fraught with paradox and exclusion, a reality that continues to shape its practice today. While often heralded as a system of "government of the people, by the people, for the people," its implementation has historically been marred by machiavelianism and parochialism.

Philosophical critiques, such as those by Karl Popper, highlight democracy's vulnerability. Popper argued that a democratic majority could legally vote to establish a tyrant or elect a leader who might betray their mandate. This inherent tension, where the will of the people can lead to detrimental outcomes, underscores Plato's assertion that democracy may select "the best liar" rather than the most capable leader.

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democracy never selects the best leader, it selects the best liar.

The recent governorship election in Osun State, Nigeria, serves as a stark illustration of these democratic shortcomings. The election was reportedly plagued by incidents of vote buying, electoral clientelism, hooliganism, and intimidation, including death threats. The use of "Federal Might," exemplified by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's actions regarding state allocations and the presence of ruling party governors, further complicated the electoral landscape.

Adding to the controversy, the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike's post-election remarks suggested that the APC could have secured the state if federal power had been fully deployed. This context highlights the precarious position of Governor Ademola Adeleke, who reportedly sought political alliances, including with President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, as his own party, the People’s Democratic Party, faced internal turmoil.

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a democratic majority could legally vote to establish a tyrant