A socio-political movement, The Alternative, has intensified its grassroots campaign against voter apathy, vote buying, and political disillusionment, urging Nigerians to take charge of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Wednesday during an empowerment programme for Agbe Gbe’lu Agro Network Limited, Ogun West chapter—a farmers’ cooperative in Ogun State—the Convener of The Alternative, Segun Showunmi, said the movement is focused on reawakening political consciousness among rural dwellers.
Represented by a national member of the movement, Mr. Adai Edwin, Showunmi declared that Nigeria must move past the era of vote trading, empty campaign promises, and voter disengagement.
“The era of vote buying, broken promises, and politics of bitterness is over,” he said. “We want to build a political culture where citizens vote not out of desperation or manipulation, but out of a sense of duty and awareness.”
He stressed that voting is not just a constitutional right but a civic responsibility that defines true citizenship.
“Our message is simple: citizens, especially at the grassroots, must understand that they are not doing any politician a favour by voting. They are fulfilling their responsibility to themselves and the country,” Showunmi stated.
According to him, The Alternative seeks to empower voters to elect credible leaders who reflect the true will of the people, rather than candidates imposed by political elites.
He added, “We cannot continue to record low voter turnout in rural areas despite their large population. We must sensitise them that elections are not just seasonal events, but critical moments that shape their future.”
Also speaking, the South-West Chairman of the Movement, Rev. Olusola Salau, reassured farmers of The Alternative’s commitment to supporting agricultural development as part of its broader mission to entrench people-oriented leadership.
Salau announced that the movement had secured a warehouse in Abeokuta for farmers to store and sell their produce at fair prices and revealed plans to provide tractors and modern farming equipment to improve agricultural productivity.
“We have heard your concerns. We’ve rented a warehouse in Abeokuta to ensure you are no longer forced to sell your goods at give-away prices. More equipment is on the way,” Salau said.
In his remarks, the National Director of Agbe Gbe’lu, Mr. Ola Emmanuel, decried the neglect of farmers by successive governments, accusing them of prioritising luxury for politicians over national food security.
“We’ve received no support in the form of tractors, fertilisers, or modern farming tools,” Emmanuel lamented. “Instead, the government is investing in SUVs for politicians. How do we ensure food security when the people expected to produce food are abandoned?”
He appealed to both government and private stakeholders to invest in mechanised agriculture, stating that Nigeria cannot meet its food production targets with outdated tools like hoes and cutlasses.
“As farmers, we’re deliberate about transitioning to modern farming. But without access to capital and equipment, we’re stuck in the past. If the government won’t help, we hope well-meaning Nigerians will,” he added.
The event marked a convergence of political advocacy and grassroots empowerment, with The Alternative promising to remain a formidable force in reshaping Nigeria’s political and developmental landscape.
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