Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on Nigerian politicians to end the practice of arming unemployed youths during elections, warning that such actions fuel post-election violence and insecurity across the country.
Speaking during a recent Senate plenary, Oshiomhole emphasized that genuine reform must begin with personal integrity and discipline among political leaders.
“As elected persons, we as senators shall not, directly or indirectly, secretly or openly, aid and abet unemployed or semi-employed people and arm them to disrupt elections. If we reform our character, this problem is 90% solved,” he said.
Recalling his time as governor of Edo State, Oshiomhole highlighted his “one man, one vote; one woman, one vote” initiative, which he said helped reduce violence and restore faith in the electoral process.
“It is now possible to conduct an election without counting dead bodies. It wasn’t so before,” he said. “The beauty of democracy is not about holding power, but about knowing that people freely chose you to represent them and manage their collective resources for the greater good.”
Oshiomhole lamented that many politicians who rig elections can never find true satisfaction, as they know deep down their mandates lack legitimacy.
He further explained that the surge in violent crimes after elections often stems from the weapons distributed to thugs during campaigns, which are never recovered once the elections end.
“After every election, violent crimes increase because the politicians who armed hungry youths abandon them. Those weapons then find their way into society,” he said.
The senator urged his colleagues and other public officials to embrace character reform, fairness, and accountability, saying such values are essential for building peace and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy
