By Hon. Comrade James Onifade 
Election is just a day, but the preparation can take years, and the preparation will determine the outcome of the election.
As Osun State inches closer to its next gubernatorial election, there is an urgent message that needs to echo through the corridor of every media machinery for GOVERNOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE’S REELECTION: Wake up! The time for complacency has long passed, and the battlefield of public opinion is already heating up.
The Power of Media in Modern Politics
In contemporary politics, elections are won and lost long before voters cast their ballots. The narrative that dominates public discourse, the stories that capture hearts and minds, and the truths that cut through propaganda—all these are shaped by active, strategic, and relentless media engagement. The media is not just a megaphone; it is a powerful force that can defend truth, counter misinformation, and mobilize the electorate.
Yet, as opposition parties sharpen their media strategies and flood information channels with their messaging, the question must be asked: Where are the Osun PDP media?
The APC Media Onslaught: A Clear and Present Danger
Make no mistake about it: the All Progressives Congress (APC) is waging a full-scale media war against the PDP in Osun State. They are raiding us through every available media channel, traditional outlets, social media platforms, blogs, and WhatsApp groups. Their coordinated attacks come daily, sometimes hourly, shaping narratives, spreading misinformation, and attempting to erode public confidence in the PDP administration.
The most troubling part? We have the capacity to match them blow for blow, yet we remain largely silent. If the PDP had a strong, active media team operating at full capacity, the APC wouldn’t stand a chance against us, not even for one beat. We have the truth on our side, we have achievements to showcase, and we have the political will of Osun people behind us. What we seem to lack is the urgency and coordination to deploy these advantages effectively.
Why Media Warfare Matters Now More Than Ever
While physical confrontations and street politics might invite federal intervention or even a state of emergency declaration as they (APC) initially aimed, media engagement offers a legitimate, powerful, and consequence-free battlefield. This is where we can and must take the fight to the opposition without fear of repercussions. The war of words, facts, and narratives is ours to win if only we choose to fight it.
The APC understands this perfectly. That’s why they invest heavily in their media machinery, ensuring that their version of events dominates the information space. They know that in the absence of a strong counter-narrative, their lies become accepted truths.
PDP Where Has Our Fire Gone?
Remember the energy, the passion, and the relentless media campaign that helped bring Governor Adeleke to power? Where is that same energy now?
I made a survey of our current media presence, and it reveals a disturbing pattern: some media members write articles once a week, if at all. Some react to current events once or twice weekly, often days after the news cycle has moved on. This sporadic, reactive approach is not just inadequate. It’s dangerous.
We are taking the lead in Osun State as an inseparable force behind Our Governor. We hold the governorship. We have a track record to defend and promote. Yet, we are allowing the APC to set the agenda, control the narrative, and define public perception. This is unacceptable.
The APC can not just waltz in and take charge of a state where we are the dominant political force unless we allow them to through our silence and inaction. Our current media lethargy is giving them an undeserved edge, making their uphill battle look like a stroll in the park.
Silence is Not a Strategy
There’s an old saying that silence is golden, but in politics, silence is surrender. While the PDP media team may believe they have time on their side, the reality is starkly different. Opposition forces are not sleeping. They are crafting narratives, building momentum, and occupying the information space that should be contested ground.
Every day that passes without robust media engagement is a day lost. Every uncontested claim by the opponents becomes accepted truth in the minds of undecided voters. Every attack left unanswered chips away at public confidence. In this digital age, where information travels at lightning speed and perception often trumps reality, the PDP cannot afford to be reactive when they should be proactive.
International Community Must Act: Osun State Under Siege as APC Strangles Democracy
We are hereby appealing to the international community to take note of the democratic crisis unfolding in our state since Governor Ademola Adeleke assumed office. We are witnessing unprecedented interference in our governance, including the unlawful seizure of local government funds that are meant to deliver essential services to our citizens at the grassroots level.
The ruling APC at the federal level has engaged in systematic victimization of our Governor, not because of any wrongdoing, but because of his immense popularity and the threat this poses to their political control. These actions undermine the democratic principles that Nigeria claims to uphold and deny the people of Osun State their right to self-governance and development.
We call on international observers, democratic institutions, and the global community to shine a light on these injustices and hold those responsible accountable, so that democracy and the rule of law can prevail in Osun State.
The Urgency of Now
The gubernatorial election may seem distant, but political victories are built on foundations laid months and even years in advance. This is the season for groundwork: establishing credibility, building relationships with voters, highlighting achievements, exposing failures of opponents, and most importantly, controlling the narrative.
The Osun PDP media team must understand that their work is not peripheral—it is central to electoral success.
They are the guardians of the party’s reputation, the amplifiers of its message, and the defenders against deliberate distortions.
A Call to Action
To the Osun PDP media handlers, spokespersons, social media managers, content creators, and communication strategists: this is your wake-up call.
It’s time to move from slumber to action. Develop comprehensive communication strategies. Engage actively on all media platforms traditional and digital. Create compelling content that resonates with the electorate. Counter misinformation swiftly and factually. Tell your story before others tell it for you.
Match the APC’s energy and exceed it. If they post ten articles, post twenty. If they dominate one platform, dominate three. If they spread one falsehood, counter it with ten truths. This is not the time for once-a-week commentary or occasional reactions. This requires daily, sustained, strategic engagement across all fronts.
The people of Osun are watching, listening, and waiting to be convinced. They deserve to hear from you clearly, consistently, and convincingly.
Politics is not a spectator sport, and elections are not won by wishful thinking. They are won through deliberate, sustained, and strategic effort. The media component of that effort cannot be understated or underutilized.
The question is simple: Will the Osun PDP media rise to the occasion, or will they watch from the sidelines as others define the political landscape?
The answer will be revealed not on election day, but in the days, weeks, and months leading up to it. The clock is ticking, the opposition is advancing, and the information battlefield awaits.
The time to act is now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Now.
The future of Osun State’s leadership depends on it, and history will not forgive those who had the power to act but chose to remain silent.
E-signed: Hon. Comrade James Onifade
Advocate for Good Governance and A Better Judicial System
Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin