Political economist and former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, has described the outcome of the Osun governorship election as proof that “evil has an expiry date,” while taking a swipe at political defections surrounding the poll.
Utomi made the remarks in a post on X on Tuesday, three days after Governor Ademola Adeleke secured re-election in the August 15 governorship election.
The economist said the election demonstrated that even people he considered “unworthy” could play a role in stopping what he described as “the train.”
“If Osun elections proved a point, it is that evil has an expiry date and that even the unworthy can be used to stop the train,” he wrote.
Utomi said the development had reinforced his belief that ethical conduct remained crucial to the progress of a nation.
“Righteousness does indeed exalt a nation and its opposite is a reproach to any people,” he said.
He also criticised governors whom he accused of switching political allegiance around the Osun election, describing their conduct as one of the biggest sources of shame associated with the poll.
“The biggest shame of Osun were the ‘defecting’ Governors who left town in the cover of darkness like rain-drenched hens,” Utomi wrote.
The political economist further accused the governors of betraying the electorate and warned that they would eventually face judgment for their actions.
“Judgement for betrayal of the people still awaits them,” he added.
Utomi’s comments came after an election that had attracted considerable national attention as one of the major off-cycle contests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeleke, the Accord candidate, defeated his closest challenger, All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, in the contest.
Oyebamiji later said he respected the electoral process and backed the APC’s decision to review the outcome of the election.
The poll followed months of political realignment in Osun, with defections and counter-defections involving major political camps becoming a prominent feature of the campaign.
The movements added another layer to a contest already shaped by intense rivalry between the ruling Accord administration and the APC opposition.
The election also carried significance beyond Osun because of its proximity to the 2027 general elections. Political parties and their leaders had closely watched the contest for indications of voter sentiment, the strength of party structures and the effectiveness of emerging alliances.
For Utomi, however, the result appears to have offered a broader lesson about political power and accountability.
His comments framed the election not simply as a contest between political parties but as a reflection of the ability of voters and political developments to disrupt established calculations.
His criticism of the alleged defections also reflects a long-running debate in Nigerian politics over politicians changing parties for strategic or electoral reasons.
With the Osun contest now over, attention is expected to shift towards post-election reviews, political realignments and the wider calculations leading into 2027.
