The campaign organisation of Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has urged Governor Seyi Makinde and Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) candidate Bimbo Adekanmbi to rein in their supporters following alleged vandalism of campaign billboards across Ibadan.
The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) accused supporters of Adekanmbi of destroying billboards belonging to Alli and his running mate, Soji Adedeji, in several locations across the state capital.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, SSACO’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, listed Mokola, Sango, Monatan-Olodo Road, Odo-Ona and the Toll Gate-Iwo Road section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway among the locations where the alleged vandalism occurred.
Describing the development as unacceptable, the organisation called on Makinde and Adekanmbi to caution their supporters against actions capable of escalating political tension ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
“We warn APM hoodlums to desist from this reprehensible act, and refrain from stoking tension in the polity. Oyo State is a peaceful state. Governor Seyi Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi should immediately call their goons to order,” the statement said.
SSACO linked the alleged vandalism to an earlier incident in which Alli’s wife and two other APC candidates were allegedly attacked in Ibadan last week.
The campaign organisation accused Adekanmbi’s supporters of attempting to intimidate its candidates, arguing that political rivalry should not lead to attacks on candidates or the destruction of campaign materials.
“This sad development, once again, confirms the fear within the circle of Governor Seyi Makinde and his stooge, Adekanmbi, of the impending loss they’ll face in the forthcoming election,” the statement added.
SSACO maintained that all political parties and candidates should be allowed to campaign freely, insisting that the alleged vandalism would not force the APC to abandon its campaign activities.
It called on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agencies to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure that they face the law.
The organisation also urged security agencies to take preventive measures against further incidents, warning that political violence and destruction of campaign materials could threaten the peaceful conduct of political activities in the state.
Despite its accusations against Adekanmbi’s supporters, SSACO appealed to APC members and supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliation.
“The SSACO urges all APC members and supporters in Oyo State to be calm and avoid taking laws into their hands. They should resist provocation by Adekanmbi’s hoodlums,” the statement said.
The organisation further reiterated its support for Alli’s proposed governance blueprint, tagged Oyo AHEAD, which it said would restore the state’s development prospects if the senator wins the 2027 governorship election.
