By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
The Ogun State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Biodun Collins Ogundipe, has urged Nigerians to prioritise competence, capacity and character over political party affiliation, financial inducements and ethnic considerations when electing leaders.
Speaking during a media chat in Abeokuta on Monday, Ogundipe argued that the nation’s slow pace of development stems largely from poor leadership at the state level, maintaining that many governors lack the vision, knowledge and competence required to drive meaningful progress.
He called on Nigerians, particularly young people, to critically assess candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections by examining their track records and development plans before casting their votes.
According to him, the era of politicians relying on vote-buying and empty campaign promises should be over, stressing that voters must demand clear policies capable of improving their lives and securing a better future for coming generations.
“People should no longer be deceived by politicians who offer money without explaining how they intend to transform lives. If a candidate cannot present a verifiable track record either in business or public service, such a person should not be entrusted with the resources of a state,” he said.
Ogundipe further maintained that governance should be people-centred, accusing many state governments of neglecting grassroots communities and failing to address their basic needs.
On security, the ADC candidate said modern policing requires more than the acquisition of weapons and armoured vehicles. He argued that effective security management should focus on intelligence gathering, crime prediction, prevention and rapid response through technology-driven solutions.
He criticised governors who invest heavily in security hardware without embracing innovative approaches, insisting that artificial intelligence and data-driven systems offer more effective tools for tackling crime.
“Security is not about chasing criminals after crimes have been committed or spending billions on armoured vehicles. Effective security in the 21st century should be intelligence-led and powered by artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, many governors continue to ignore these realities,” he said.
