Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has warned opposition politicians against relying on federal support to win elections, saying voters should determine electoral outcomes.

Mohammed spoke on Monday after casting his ballot at Model Central Primary School, Yalwan Duguri, in Alkaleri Local Government Area during the ongoing Bauchi State local government elections.

The governor said recent electoral developments, particularly the outcome of the Osun State governorship election, showed that federal influence could no longer guarantee victory at the polls.

He criticised opposition parties that boycotted the council elections, saying they should have participated to test their popularity among voters.

“If you sit down at home and think that the Federal Government will give you latitude and leeway to win an election, President Tinubu is showing people that he is a democrat,” Mohammed said.

He cited the Osun election, where incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke was declared winner, as evidence that voters were increasingly determining electoral outcomes.

“You have seen what happened in Osun; the people voted, and their votes counted. People should know that there is no person that is going to install them—there is no monarchy here. It is democratic governance,” he said.

Mohammed urged political parties and their candidates to engage directly with voters rather than depend on federal influence or political intervention.

He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to conducting transparent, credible and competitive elections across Bauchi State.