Aformer Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, has reacted to the Edo State Governorship Election 2024 results, highlighting a concerning disconnect between the current economic hardship faced by Nigerians and their voting decisions in the poll held on Saturday.

Newsmen had reported how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, as leading after the collation of results from 17 out of the 18 local government areas in the state.

The APC candidate also won in Oredo Local Government Area, defeating Governor Godwin Obaseki’s People Democratic Party in his local government area.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, Adebayo stated that the election has taught him that the ruling party, APC, is focused on politics, while the opposition is engaged in “political science.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian people are prioritising their economic survival, effectively practising “actuarial science.””The hunger in people’s stomachs has not been communicated to their thumbs,” Adebayo noted, emphasising the need to bridge the gap between politics and the people’s interests.

He commended Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party for running a brilliant campaign, providing a credible alternative to the APC and PDP.

Adebayo urged Nigerians to reevaluate their voting habits, as the status quo cannot continue.

He wrote: “Edo State Governorship Election 2024 has taught me that @OfficialAPCNg is doing politics and we in the opposition are doing political science whilst the Nigerian people on whose behalf we are fighting are doing actuarial science.

“But for the sake of the survival of democracy and Nigeria as a polity, the gap must be bridged ahead of 2027. I commend @OlumideAkpata of @NgLabour for such a brilliant campaign and eliminating the lazy excuse that the Edo people did not have credible alternatives to the status quo duo of the @OfficialAPCNg and @OfficialPDPNig.

“The hunger in the People’s stomachs has not been communicated to their thumbs.

“The majority of the electorate cannot continue to vote for the status quo by not coming out on Election Day. We will not give up on the people and this most beautiful and glorious country. I wish Edo State people all the best and may God bless Nigeria.”