Former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Prince Matthew Yomi Kolawole, has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo will win the 2027 elections if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts free, fair and credible polls.
Kolawole, in a statement, commended INEC for what he described as its improved conduct of recent electoral activities, saying credible elections would enable Nigerians to freely elect candidates of their choice.
He said the manner in which INEC conducted the recent governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states indicated the readiness of the commission’s chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, to deliver free, fair and credible general elections in 2027.
According to him, the performance of any government should be assessed based on its achievements and impact on the lives of citizens, rather than political sentiments.
Kolawole said the Tinubu administration had introduced reforms and development initiatives which, if sustained, could strengthen the economy and improve the welfare of Nigerians.
He also expressed confidence in Governor Ododo’s re-election bid, citing the administration’s interventions in infrastructure, security, education, healthcare, agriculture and other sectors.
He said since assuming office in January 2024, the Ododo administration had embarked on several projects and programmes aimed at improving living conditions and strengthening the state’s economic base.
According to him, the government has undertaken the construction and rehabilitation of roads across the state, while work has commenced on the proposed Kogi International Airport, which he said would improve transportation, attract investment and boost economic activities.
In the education sector, the former Speaker said the administration had continued to support students through bursaries, scholarships and payment of examination fees, while several schools had benefited from renovation and rehabilitation.
He also cited efforts to secure accreditation and revive the MBBS programme at Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, as part of the administration’s intervention in tertiary education.
On healthcare, Kolawole said the government had invested in primary healthcare infrastructure and improved access to medical services, particularly in rural communities, while measures had also been introduced to attract and retain medical personnel.
He said security remained a major priority of the administration, noting that the governor had strengthened collaboration among the police, military, vigilante groups, hunters and other security agencies to combat criminality.
The former Speaker also noted the administration’s focus on agriculture and food security, youth and women empowerment, workers’ welfare and improved internally generated revenue.
He added that the 2026 budget provided for major housing and electrification projects, including the proposed construction of 1,050 housing units under the “Ododo Villa” initiative across the three senatorial districts.
Kolawole urged political parties and their supporters to abide by the rules and allow INEC to conduct the elections without interference.
He also called on Nigerians to participate actively in the electoral process, stressing that peaceful, transparent and credible elections remained essential to strengthening democracy.
He said the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend largely on the independence of electoral institutions, the conduct of political actors and the willingness of all stakeholders to accept the outcome of a genuinely free and fair contest.
Kolawole, while congratulating President Tinubu and Governor Ododo in advance, expressed optimism that both leaders would secure victory if given a level playing field by the electoral umpire.