Popularity, Billboards Don’t Translate to Votes – AA Gov’ship Candidate Farinloye

-Urges Osun Voters To Reject Vote Buying, Violence

-Says Grassroots Engagement, Not Publicity Stunts, Will Determine Election Outcome

The governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the August 15 Osun governorship election, Lanre Farinloye, has said political popularity measured by billboards, campaign noise and public displays should not be mistaken for electoral victory, insisting that genuine grassroots support remains the deciding factor at the polls.

Farinloye stated this on Friday while featuring on Issues That Matter, a programme on City Mirror TV, where he outlined his campaign strategy and vision for the state.

The AA candidate said his campaign was deliberately avoiding expensive publicity campaigns in favour of direct engagement with residents across communities.

“Noise doesn’t equate to votes, and billboards don’t translate to popularity at the ballot box, our strategy is not billboards or publicity stunts. We are strategic in building relationships from house to house and from one grassroots community to another. That is where elections are won.”

He maintained that his campaign was built around connecting with the electorate and understanding their challenges rather than relying on media hype.

Farinloye also cautioned politicians against using violence as a means of seeking political power, arguing that leaders who emerge through violence often become indebted to those who sponsored the unrest.

“Naturally, if you employ violence to obtain power, when you get into office, you will be held hostage by those people. That is one of the reasons we have not made the expected progress as a nation,” he said.

Reacting to the recent wave of political violence in the state, including the killing of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade, Farinloye described the development as unfortunate and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

“It is unfortunate, especially at this election period. May the soul of Ezekiel rest in peace,” he said.

He pledged that an Action Alliance administration would prioritise the welfare and security of residents by deploying technology to improve policing and public safety.

According to him, “In Osun Tuntun, we are looking at the protection of the welfare and security of Osun citizens by introducing technology into governance and security management.”

The candidate said his administration would focus on stimulating the state’s economy through industrialisation, agriculture and local production.

“We have so many talented young people in Osun. Our plan is to build factories, encourage local production, promote agribusiness and increase the state’s internally generated revenue. We want to create jobs not only for graduates but also for artisans and technicians,” he said.

Farinloye added that tackling unemployment and improving economic opportunities would address many of the social problems confronting the state.

He also vowed to confront the challenge of out-of-school children through long-term policies aimed at addressing the root causes of the problem.

The AA candidate urged voters to look beyond popularity and campaign spectacle when making their choice on election day.

“I urge the people of Osun not to vote based on popularity but to vote for the person who genuinely has their interest at heart. Our focus is to build an Osun Tuntun. We cannot indulge in vote buying because that is not the kind of politics we believe in,” he said.

He further condemned the destruction of campaign materials by political opponents, describing the act as undemocratic.

“Those destroying campaign banners are not practising democracy. Democracy is about allowing people to freely canvass for support without intimidation,” Farinloye added.

He therefore appealed to residents to shun violence throughout the electioneering period, insisting that peaceful participation and issue-based campaigns remain the foundation of a credible democratic process.