The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has challenged Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, to allow security agencies to investigate recent attacks involving members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
SSACO made the call in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, on Sunday, while reacting to allegations by the Adekanmbi Campaign Organisation that APC and SSACO were attempting to link APM members to recent incidents of violence without evidence.
The latest exchange follows a series of accusations between the APC and APM ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Earlier this month, SSACO alleged that an APC member identified as Ridwan Adeyemi, popularly known as Paul Moore, was killed in Ibadan, while Mrs Tawakalit Alli, wife of the party’s governorship candidate, as well as APC lawmakers Remi Oseni and Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo, were attacked.
The APM campaign organisation subsequently accused APC and SSACO of making unfounded allegations and urged security agencies to independently investigate the incidents.
Responding, Oladele faulted Adekanmbi’s campaign for describing SSACO’s warnings about political violence as irresponsible.
He said the argument that public allegations could interfere with investigations by security agencies was illogical, insisting that the appropriate response should be for suspected perpetrators to be identified and prosecuted.
“Instead of reining in on their violent goons, allow the people of Oyo State to live in peace and vote for their preferred candidates in the 2027 elections, APM in Oyo State has been coming up with illogical arguments to explain away their guilt,” Oladele said.
SSACO alleged that the APM had offered conflicting explanations regarding violence involving political actors in the state.
“First, they claimed that APC members were the ones attacking their own candidates and members. Now, they say that APC has no evidence to pin APM to the killings and other attacks on opposition figures,” the statement added.
The campaign organisation therefore challenged Makinde and Adekanmbi to allow security agencies to investigate the allegations rather than dismissing concerns raised by the opposition.
“They should allow security agencies fish out the killers and attackers within the APM instead of faulting APC’s cries,” Oladele said, while alleging that perpetrators of violence were emboldened by political sponsors.
He also called on political actors to respect the sanctity of human life, stressing that no resident should be attacked or killed because of political affiliation or choice.
“No resident deserves to die or be attacked because of party affiliation or political choice,” he said.
SSACO further invoked Makinde’s political history, arguing that the governor won the 2019 governorship election as an opposition candidate in a peaceful environment and inherited what it described as a peaceful state.
It urged the governor and Adekanmbi to focus on maintaining political tolerance and respect for opposing views ahead of the 2027 election.
The organisation also criticised what it described as efforts to “explain away” allegations of political violence, urging the governor and the APM candidate to undertake what it called a “soul-searching” and pursue peaceful political engagement.
It maintained that political differences should not be allowed to degenerate into violence.
“No political ambition is worth the life of an Oyo State indigene and resident,” SSACO added
The organisation also reiterated its support for Alli’s Oyo-AHEAD agenda, saying the APC candidate remained prepared to offer an alternative political direction for the state.
