The campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has threatened to sue Allied Peoples Movement’s flagbearer, Bimbo Adekanmbi over an alleged corruption claim against the senator, demanding that he produce evidence to back his allegation.
The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) accused Adekanmbi of spreading falsehoods and distorting historical facts to damage Alli’s reputation ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the organisation said Adekanmbi made the allegations during a radio interview, describing them as an attempt to undermine Alli’s growing political profile.
SSACO challenged Adekanmbi to produce the report on which he based the corruption allegation or face a defamation suit.
Defending Alli’s record as Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, the campaign organisation said he maintained prompt salary payments and prioritised workers’ welfare, earning recognition from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State.
It argued that the financial difficulties experienced by local governments following the Federal Military Government’s January 1993 policy on staff promotions and salary increases were nationwide, blaming inadequate allocations for the crisis.
According to SSACO, the challenges persisted beyond Alli’s tenure and were later addressed through institutional measures, including the establishment of the National Primary Education Commission in 1997 and the introduction of first-line charges for teachers’ salaries by 1999.
The campaign organisation accused Adekanmbi and his political associates of using historical challenges to mislead voters, insisting that the allegations would not weaken Alli’s standing in the state.
Turning its criticism towards Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, SSACO accused the government of weakening local government administration and depriving communities of effective grassroots governance.
It said Alli would revitalise the state’s 33 local government areas if elected governor in 2027, strengthening their administrative and financial capacity to meet residents’ needs.
The organisation also listed the reconstruction of feeder and access roads among Alli’s proposed priorities, saying improved roads would ease the movement of people and goods and stimulate economic activities across the state.
SSACO expressed confidence that voters would reject Makinde and Adekanmbi in the 2027 elections, urging its political opponents to focus on policy proposals rather than what it described as attempts to rewrite history for partisan gain.
Kehinde Ayanboade
Kehinde Ayanboade is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Naija Metro News, with over eight years of experience covering Nigerian politics, crime, legislative proceedings and metropolitan affairs.
