Oyo APC Campaign Threatens Defamation Suit Against APM Candidate

The campaign organisation of Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, has warned of legal action against Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate Bimbo Adekanmbi over allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement.

In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) described Adekanmbi’s claims as false and politically motivated, accusing him of distorting historical facts to undermine Alli’s growing support ahead of the 2027 election.

The group defended Alli’s record as chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, noting his commitment to workers’ welfare and prompt salary payments, which earned him recognition from the Nigeria Union of Teachers.

It explained that financial challenges faced by local governments in the 1990s were nationwide issues triggered by federal policy changes, not evidence of corruption.

SSACO challenged Adekanmbi to produce evidence backing his claims, warning that failure to do so could result in a defamation suit.

The organisation also criticised Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, accusing it of weakening local government structures and depriving residents of effective grassroots governance.

Looking ahead, SSACO said Alli’s priorities, if elected, would include strengthening the administrative and financial capacities of Oyo’s 33 local governments, reconstructing feeder roads, and boosting economic activity across the state.

The campaign expressed confidence that voters would reject both Makinde and Adekanmbi in 2027, insisting that Alli’s focus on grassroots development would resonate with the electorate.

It urged Adekanmbi to engage in issue-based discourse rather than what it described as attempts to rewrite history for partisan advantage.