Adeleke Said, ‘I’m Going To Guarantee The Pres 1.5M Votes,’& Wike Replied, ‘It’s A Done Deal’-Araoye

Prof. Ademola Araoye, a member of the Committee for the Actualisation of Yoruba Self Determination (CAYSD), has raised concerns about the state of democracy in Nigeria, questioning whether the electoral process adequately represents the wishes of citizens ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Araoye expressed his views during an interview on Edmund Obilo’s State Affairs on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. He discussed the influence of prominent political figures and how their actions could affect public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.

Speaking about the issue, Araoye said, “Governor Adeleke said, ‘I’m going to guarantee the president 1.5 million votes,’ and Wike replied, ‘It is a done deal’”

The professor argued that such political statements raised questions about the credibility of elections, particularly when influential individuals appeared confident about electoral outcomes before voters had cast their ballots.

According to Araoye, Nigeria’s political system has become increasingly influenced by a limited number of powerful figures who play significant roles in determining the country’s governance and political direction. He questioned whether citizens could genuinely exercise their democratic rights when political leaders appeared to have expectations about election results in advance.

Araoye further explained that holding periodic elections was not enough to establish a functional democracy. He maintained that a credible democratic system must include accountability, meaningful public participation and strong institutions capable of protecting the interests of the people.

He also connected his concerns about governance to Nigeria’s wider challenges, including insecurity, economic hardship and persistent disagreements among the country’s different nationalities. He suggested that these issues had contributed to growing dissatisfaction with the existing political arrangement.

The CAYSD member reiterated his organisation’s position that peaceful negotiations were necessary to address questions surrounding Nigeria’s future. He argued that the country needed to confront its structural challenges while giving proper consideration to the concerns and aspirations of its various nationalities.

Click on the link to watch the video from 11:30 – 11:46

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