The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has challenged Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, and the Allied People’s Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, to allow security agencies to investigate and prosecute anyone found culpable in alleged violent attacks on opposition figures in the state.
Alli dares Makinde, Adekanmbi on alleged violent attacks
SSACO made the call in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, while reacting to allegations by the Hon Bimbo Adekanmbi Governorship Campaign Organisation that it and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State were making unsubstantiated claims linking APM members to violence.
The controversy followed the killing of an APC member, Ridwan Adeyemi, and reported attacks on Mrs Tawakalit Alli, wife of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, as well as Hon. Remi Oseni and Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo in Ibadan on October 7.
SSACO, in a statement, faulted Adekanmbi’s campaign organisation for criticising its warnings about political violence, arguing that such concerns were either senseless or irresponsible.
“It is strange that the Hon. Adekanmbi Campaign Organisation can put up a shameless argument that warning Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi against foisting violence on the people of Oyo State is senseless and irresponsible,” the statement read.
The organisation also rejected the argument that public accusations could undermine the work of security agencies or allow criminals to exploit political tensions to attack APC members.
SSACO accused the APM in Oyo State of failing to adequately address allegations of violence, claiming that its explanations had shifted from alleging that APC members were attacking their own candidates and members to demanding evidence linking APM members to the incidents.
“We challenge Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi to stop shielding their attack dogs from facing the law. They should allow security agencies fish out the killers and attackers within the APM instead of faulting APC’s cries,” the statement added.
The campaign organisation, however, did not provide specific evidence in the statement to substantiate its allegation that APM members were responsible for the killing and attacks.
It called on political actors in the state to respect the sanctity of human life and ensure that residents were not targeted because of their political affiliations or choices.
SSACO further reminded Makinde that he won the 2019 governorship election as an opposition candidate in what it described as a peaceful atmosphere, urging the governor to protect the same conditions ahead of the 2027 general election.
“No resident deserves to die or be attacked because of party affiliation or political choice,” the statement said.
The organisation also maintained that no political ambition was worth the life of any resident of Oyo State, accusing the APM of attempting to explain away the allegations against it.
It expressed confidence in Senator Alli’s proposed Oyo-AHEAD Agenda, which it said would provide a platform for the change the state needed.
The allegations and counterclaims underscored growing political tensions in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The claims of responsibility for the incidents remain mere allegations, as there was no independent source from security agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported killing and attacks.
