The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State has accused the camp of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, of becoming unsettled by a recent interview granted by its candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, on Fresh FM in Ibadan.
The APM Presidential and Gubernatorial Campaign Council made the allegation in a statement issued on Sunday, October 25, 2026, describing reactions to Adekanmbi’s interview as evidence of growing concern among his political opponents ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The statement, signed by the council’s Co-Director of Media and Publicity, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, cited an alleged threat of legal action and an article titled “Electing Adekanmbi as Oyo Governor Will Spell Total Doom for Oyo LGs” as examples of what it described as an increasingly hostile response to the APM candidate.
The council dismissed the article as political fearmongering, arguing that it relied on assumptions and exaggerated predictions rather than verifiable evidence about Adekanmbi’s position on local government autonomy.
It accused the author of misrepresenting the candidate’s remarks by interpreting his assertion that state governments cannot grant autonomy to local governments as opposition to the principle itself.
“Recognising this reality is not opposition to autonomy; it is simply an acknowledgment of the legal framework within which governments operate,” the statement said.
The council maintained that local government autonomy is a constitutional matter and argued that implementing the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government financial autonomy involves legal and institutional processes requiring the participation of multiple stakeholders.
It also rejected claims that local government administration had collapsed in Oyo State, pointing to projects in rural roads, primary healthcare, education, agriculture and security as evidence of continued grassroots development.
The campaign council questioned the basis for claims that local councils had been destroyed, asking why councils continued to initiate and commission projects if grassroots governance had completely collapsed.
It further recalled Adekanmbi’s question during his Fresh FM interview about the state of local government autonomy in APC-controlled states, challenging his critics to provide examples to support their arguments.
The council’s position comes amid continuing political debate over the relationship between state governments and local councils, particularly following the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government financial autonomy.
On governance continuity, the APM campaign council said Adekanmbi’s pledge to build on the achievements of Governor Seyi Makinde should not be interpreted as an intention to reproduce every policy or practice associated with the current administration.
It argued that continuity should involve preserving successful programmes while improving areas that require attention.
“Continuity does not mean duplication. It means sustaining what works while improving what requires improvement,” the statement said.
The council urged residents to distinguish between legitimate political criticism and what it described as attempts to create unnecessary fear around Adekanmbi’s candidacy.
It added that the APM candidate remained focused on strengthening institutions, sustaining development and expanding opportunities for residents of Oyo State.
The statement was issued amid political exchanges among parties and their governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 Oyo State governorship election.
