The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised the use of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, for a political rally organised by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), accusing Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration of insensitivity to public concerns and waste of public funds.
APM mobilised supporters from the 33 local government areas of Oyo State to the stadium on Monday for the political gathering ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC alleged that some markets in Ibadan were forcibly closed and that traders, commercial transport operators and other residents were pressured to attend the rally.
The opposition party also questioned the decision to use the stadium for a political event amid renewed scrutiny of its rehabilitation and its reported rejection by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for continental matches.
According to APC, the development was particularly troubling because the state government had spent about N5.5 billion on the stadium project.
Records show that the contract for the remodelling of the facility was awarded at N5.58 billion in 2020 under the Makinde administration.
“At a time questions were being asked on what Gov. Makinde did on Adamasingba stadium to justify the whooping N5.5billion cost of rehabilitation in view of the fact that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently rejected the facility for its matches, the same stadium was turned into a campaign ground where APM members converged to enjoy Fuji music,” Sadare said.
Oyo APC had previously called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the award and execution of the stadium reconstruction project.
The party’s demand followed CAF’s classification of the facility as unsuitable to host Shooting Stars’ continental fixtures.
Sadare also linked the stadium controversy to Shooting Stars Sports Club’s recent CAF Confederation Cup campaign, noting that the Ibadan-based club played its first-leg fixture against Tunisian side CS Sfaxien in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after the Adamasingba facility was deemed unsuitable.
He argued that the state government should instead address concerns surrounding the quality of the stadium rehabilitation.
“Rather than refund the N5.5b misappropriated in the name of Adamasingba stadium rehabilitation and re-award the project to a competent contractor in a transparent manner, Gov. Makinde continued to rub insults on the injury of the people,” he said.
APC further alleged that the rally involved substantial expenditure from the state treasury, although it did not provide details or evidence establishing the amount spent on the event.
The party also accused the administration of disregarding public criticism of the stadium project.
Makinde’s political activities have intensified ahead of the 2027 elections after the governor adopted the APM as his political platform and emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
The APM has subsequently announced plans for its 2027 campaign, while describing Makinde’s popularity as a strength for its presidential bid.
The latest APC criticism therefore adds another layer to the political contest in Oyo State, with the opposition focusing its attack on the cost and performance of the Adamasingba stadium project as well as the use of the facility for the APM rally.
