Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, former Lagos State deputy governor, has warned that unchecked intimidation and political manipulation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu’s administration could drive Nigerians to stage mass protests.
In a Punch interview following the recent Lagos State local government elections, where the APC swept all seats, Ojikutu labeled the process a “selection,” not an election, citing widespread voter apathy as evidence. She attributed the low turnout to residents’ fear of harassment and their belief in predetermined outcomes, undermining trust in the electoral system.
Ojikutu cautioned that suppressing citizens’ voices could push Nigeria to a breaking point, sparking demands for authentic change. While she prays for leaders’ success, noting that their failures burden the masses, she stressed that no leader can deliver beyond their capacity and warned that those who elevate themselves above accountability face ruin.
Reflecting on a past encounter with Bayo Onanuga, a key Tinubu aide, at an event honoring late Governor Lateef Jakande, Ojikutu urged him to convey the true extent of Nigerians’ hardships rather than sanitized reports.
In her words, “That wasn’t an election; it was a selection. Did you see the voter turnout? People already expected what happened. If you know they will beat you and no one will speak up, would you come out?”
Her remarks echo her earlier concerns about the 2023 governorship polls, which she described as marred by intimidation and ethnic profiling, highlighting persistent issues of electoral integrity and governance in Lagos as the 2027 elections loom.
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