For some time now, our faces have been assaulted with awareness posters bearing the inscription “Oyo N Pe o” across Ibadan. Recently, the face behind the posters was revealed after a visit by supporters who stormed his radio station, assuring they were waiting for his formal declaration for governorship and declaring their support.
It is disturbing that, despite elections being far away, partisan elements have begun creating political awareness and flooding major cities with campaign materials. This is abnormal. Oriyomi Hamzat, as an individual, has had his awareness posters spread across Ibadan since last month. Meanwhile, the only message he sends is that he disregards democratic norms and, in truth, he does not pretend about it, unlike President Tinubu, who paraded a false allegiance to democracy before his emergence.
As much as I condemn the subtle endorsement by those who visited his station with buses and his acceptance of such, it is important that INEC take charge, as expected. Political parties should also ensure that demagogues such as Oriyomi are barred from contesting, for such persons pose serious threats to our fragile democracy.
I have heard Oriyomi go on a rampage against Governor Seyi Makinde, whom he had idolised for the past 6 years. Such behaviour typifies populist. They claim to represent the voice of the people while portraying existing leaders as undemocratic. In reality, Oriyomi himself embodies anti-democratic tendencies. His goal is simply to whip up sentiment and exploit it to win the 2027 election, which is dubious at best. INEC must, therefore, end this premature campaign, which distracts and harms democratic order.
It is on record that the same Seyi Makinde, whom Oriyomi now castigates, recently discontinued a criminal case against him through the State’s Attorney-General. Though the Attorney-General may have exercised constitutional power, the decision was reckless and inconsiderate of human lives. I believe that if Nigeria were truly committed to justice, Oriyomi Hamzat who now eyes the Governor’s seat would be facing trial for “conspiracy to commit murder, manslaughter, criminal negligence and many others”. Sadly, such an individual now engages in early campaigns. Whatever Makinde may be guilty of, Oriyomi remains his accomplice and cannot be exempted.
Considering someone like Oriyomi Hamzat for the exalted position of Governor amounts to dismissing our few democratic gains. This is a man with no experience in public office, little observable commitment to constitutional order, and clear authoritarian tendencies, evident in how he runs his radio programme.
Oriyomi’s story mirrors that of Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez, who tapped into public anger against traditional politics only to become an autocrat after gaining power. It also recalls Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s populist strategy of riding on frustration to win the Presidency, then becoming a political plague. These historical parallels serve as a litmus test for identifying would-be autocrats before they seize power. The people of Oyo State must learn from past mistakes and prevent another authoritarian relapse. While Oriyomi has the right to contest, extremists like him must be kept far from power.
Our democracy is already fragile and does not need further strain from populist demagoguery. Early campaigns by individuals like Oriyomi are not only illegal under the Electoral Act but dangerous to political stability. They exploit the ignorance of the masses and appeal to emotion rather than reason. When citizens begin to cheer such individuals, democracy itself becomes imperiled.
Oriyomi’s self-styled populism mirrors the worst traits of authoritarian leaders fond of using media platforms to attack opponents, manipulate emotions, and silence dissent. His radio station has become less a public-enlightenment medium and more a propaganda tool. Anyone who disagrees with him is ridiculed or muted, reflecting an intolerance incompatible with democratic leadership.
It is not enough to claim to represent the people; genuine democracy thrives on respect for institutions, the rule of law, and pluralism of opinion. Oriyomi’s rhetoric shows contempt for these principles. His sudden shift from praising Makinde to vilifying him reveals opportunism, not principle. Such inconsistency should worry every citizen who values political stability.
The responsibility of INEC and law-enforcement agencies goes beyond conducting elections. They must enforce compliance with campaign timelines and penalise premature mobilisation. The continuous flooding of cities with posters long before the official period erodes public trust and turns democracy into a noisy theatre of self-promotion.
Oriyomi’s political ambition, coming from a background of controversy and allegations of moral and professional misconduct, raises serious concerns. Leadership demands credibility, integrity, and competence. Unfortunately, these qualities are not evident in his record. What we see instead is a media personality attempting to convert fame into political power, a dangerous mix that often breeds tyranny.
In a state like Oyo, with its proud history of intellectualism and solution-driven politics, reducing leadership to a contest of populist theatrics would be tragic. The people deserve leaders with vision and decorum, not radio entertainers with inflated egos and authoritarian leanings.
This is, therefore, a clarion call to Oyo residents, civil society groups, political parties, and the media to be vigilant. They must reject the creeping culture of populism disguised as people’s movement. Democracy is not a popularity contest; it requires discipline, lawfulness, and respect for due process.
While Oriyomi Hamzat enjoys the right to expression and political ambition, he must act within the bounds of democratic legality. INEC should intervene to halt all premature campaigns and safeguard the sanctity of electoral law. Nigeria cannot afford another cycle of empowering populist pretenders who exploit public emotions only to undermine the very democracy that gave them a voice.
Kazeem Olalekan Israel writes from Ibadan, Nigeria.
