Jelili Gbadamosi
Oba Prof. Saka Adelola Matemilola, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom,has urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying and other forms of electoral inducement ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that accepting bribes during elections often paves the way for incompetent leaders to emerge.
The monarch made the call on Thursday while speaking at the 8th anniversary of Penpushing Media Organisation, themed “Restoring Electoral Integrity: The Path to Good Governance and Public Accountability.”
Oba Matemilola emphasised that Nigeria’s future depends largely on the choices citizens make at the polls, urging voters to prioritise competence, integrity and credibility over financial incentives.
According to him, many of the nation’s leadership challenges can be traced to the practice of vote-selling, which allows individuals lacking the required vision, character and capacity to occupy public office.
He appealed to Nigerians to resist any attempt by politicians to influence their votes with money or material gifts, noting that the long-term consequences of electing the wrong leaders far outweigh any short-term financial benefit.
The traditional ruler maintained that free, fair and credible elections are essential to achieving good governance, public accountability and sustainable national development.
The event attracted media practitioners, government officials, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, who deliberated on strategies to strengthen electoral integrity and promote accountable leadership in Nigeria.
