The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has said the recent commendation of President Bola Tinubu by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has raised fresh questions about the political platform backing Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s 2027 presidential ambition.

The organisation described Mohammed’s remarks as a contradiction that could undermine the argument being advanced by Makinde and his supporters for a change of leadership at the federal level.

Mohammed, who is the national leader of the Allied Peoples Movement, the platform on which Makinde is seeking the presidency, had publicly acknowledged that Tinubu had “done so well” in some key areas, particularly finance, health and security.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, Bisi Oladele, said the Bauchi governor’s comments were significant given his position within the political structure supporting Makinde’s presidential bid.

Oladele said it was difficult to reconcile Mohammed’s commendation of the President with the argument that Nigerians needed to replace Tinubu in 2027.

“The question Nigerians should now ask is simple: if one of the principal promoters of Makinde’s presidential ambition truthfully admits that President Tinubu is doing well, what exactly is the justification for Makinde asking Nigerians to replace the President?” the statement read.

The campaign organisation said Mohammed deserved commendation for acknowledging what he considered positive aspects of the Federal Government’s performance instead of opposing the administration on every issue.

It argued that the governor’s remarks had also exposed what it described as contradictions within the political coalition around Makinde.

The organisation recalled that Mohammed had previously backed Makinde’s presidential aspiration and spoken positively about his leadership qualities.

It therefore questioned whether the political coalition supporting the Oyo governor had a sufficiently coherent position on the performance of the Tinubu administration.

“Even more instructive is the fact that Governor Mohammed had previously endorsed Makinde and described him as the leader Nigeria needed,” the statement said.

“His latest acknowledgement of President Tinubu’s performance therefore raises legitimate political questions about the cohesion, conviction and sustainability of the so-called coalition behind Makinde.”

The Alli campaign organisation further alleged that Makinde’s presidential ambition could be part of a broader political bargaining strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.

It said the Oyo governor’s presidential aspiration appeared to be serving as a means of strengthening his negotiating position as political alliances and permutations ahead of 2027 continue to take shape.

“We have always maintained that Makinde’s so-called presidential ambition appears less like a serious pathway to Aso Rock and more like a political bargaining chip designed to enhance his negotiating position in the unfolding 2027 political equation,” it said.

The organisation also questioned the strength of Makinde’s campaign, arguing that presidential politics would ultimately depend on political structures, alliances, organisation and public support.

“Makinde may continue to erect billboards, commission campaign offices and make grandiose declarations about ‘resetting’ Nigeria, but politics is ultimately about structures, numbers, credibility and alliances,” it said.

The campaign organisation, however, acknowledged Makinde’s constitutional right to contest the presidency but urged him to concentrate more on his record as governor of Oyo State.

It said issues including infrastructure, education, healthcare, the state’s finances, the local economy and workers’ welfare should also form part of the assessment of his administration.

“The people of Oyo State are more interested in his legacy—the state’s debt profile, the condition of the local economy, infrastructure, education, healthcare and the welfare of workers—than in a presidential adventure whose political foundations are already crumbling,” the statement added.

It concluded that while Makinde was entitled to pursue his presidential ambition, ambition alone should not be confused with national acceptance or political viability.

“Governor Makinde is free to aspire to the highest office in the land. That is his constitutional right. But he should not mistake ambition for viability, publicity for popularity or political bargaining for a genuine national movement,” the organisation said.

A prominent youth leader in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, Com. Anuoluwani Omidiji, has dumped the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Omidiji, who was said to be a strong supporter of the APM, announced his return to the APC after meeting with the party’s Deputy Governorship candidate, Hon. Adesoji Adedeji, at the APC campaign office in Ibadan on Saturday.

He also returned to the party with his supporters.

In a statement personally signed by him and titled, “Seeing Before and Beyond APM: A Reconstructive Voyage Back To My APC Home,” Omidiji said his decision followed careful reflection on his recent political engagements and personal convictions.

He identified youth inclusion, grassroots development, employment and empowerment, as well as security, peace and justice, as some of the key principles that influenced his decision.

Omidiji said young people should have meaningful opportunities to participate in governance, leadership, employment and human-capital development.

He also stressed the need for effective grassroots development, saying local governance and meaningful autonomy were important to ensuring that development reached communities directly.

According to him, Oyo State requires policies capable of expanding employment opportunities, creating jobs and strengthening human capacity across different sectors.

On security, peace and justice, Omidiji said every citizen deserved security, fairness and justice, as well as the opportunity to contribute positively to society.

The youth leader said his meeting with Adedeji further strengthened his interest in returning to the APC.

He said, “My interaction with the incoming APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Hon.Adesoji Adedeji, left a strong impression on me. His accessibility, willingness to listen and emphasis on grassroots concerns strengthened my interest in the direction being presented under the APC platform.”

Reflecting on his experience in the APM, Omidiji said his involvement with the party gave him an opportunity to engage with alternative political ideas.

He, however, said further reflection convinced him that his political journey should reconnect with the APC, where he said he found greater alignment with his longstanding aspirations and principles.

He said, “My engagement with APM provided an opportunity to listen to alternative political ideas. However, after further reflection, I believe my political journey should reconnect with the platform where I see greater alignment with my longstanding aspirations and principles.”

Omidiji said his focus ahead of 2027 would be on supporting constructive political participation and programmes capable of promoting development, accountability, peace and opportunities for the people of Oyo State.

“For me, 2027 is about ideas, inclusion, development and the future of our people. I will continue to advocate for a peaceful and egalitarian Oyo State where youths, women, workers, entrepreneurs and communities can participate meaningfully in development,” he said.

He subsequently declared his renewed commitment to the APC, saying the party remained his political home.

“APC has it all in the pack for a brighter Oyo State. APC is my home again, and again. APC—Progress!” he added.

Community leaders and residents of Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State have rallied behind the senatorial ambition of the All Progressives Congress candidate for Oyo South, Engr. Aderemi  Oseni, following his assurance of fresh development interventions in the area.

Oseni, who currently represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, gave the assurance on Friday at a strategic stakeholders’ meeting held at the former Camp Primary School, Camp Ido, Ibadan.

The meeting, organised by the BAI4ROCOF–Oseni For The World Movement, brought together traditional leaders, farm settlers, youth representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders from different parts of Ido Local Government.

It was held under the theme, “Reforming & Strengthening Ido Community in Solidarity.”

Among the communities represented were Camp and Eruwa farm settlements, Onido, Odebode, Morala, Mandela, Arihan and Oyateru, as well as the Ido Youth Forum and other neighbouring communities.

The stakeholders used the occasion to present some of their pressing needs to Oseni, particularly in the areas of electricity, water supply, security and basic infrastructure.

Responding to the requests, the lawmaker assured the communities that he would facilitate immediate interventions, including the provision of solar-powered street lights and boreholes.

He also promised to give urgent attention to their request for a transformer to improve electricity supply in the communities.

The commitments drew positive reactions from the stakeholders, who described the engagement as an opportunity for the people to directly present their concerns and receive responses from their representative.

Speaking at the gathering, Oseni appealed to the people to remain united and support all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

He said a coordinated APC victory across the federal and state levels would provide a stronger platform for delivering development to the grassroots.

“Vote all APC candidates at the polls. Don’t leave anyone out. From Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President, to our Governorship candidate, to myself for Senate, and all other candidates of our party.

“That is how we can guarantee development that will flow from the federal to the state and down to our communities,” he said.

Oseni also assured the communities that their concern over the reported relocation of their school would be addressed under an APC administration in Oyo State.

“The school belongs to your community. Under APC in Oyo State, we will ensure your school remains here for your children. You will not need to trek far distance to access basic education,” he said.

A major highlight of the gathering was the formal reception of His Highness, Prince Babalola Abiodun Ibrahim, into the BAI4ROCOF movement.

Prince Babalola, a respected community leader, was received into the group amid expressions of support for Oseni’s senatorial ambition and the APC.

The development was welcomed by participants as another indication of the growing engagement between the Oseni political structure and grassroots stakeholders in Ido.

Speaking during the meeting, community leaders commended Oseni for what they described as his willingness to listen to their concerns and respond to issues affecting their communities.

They pledged their continued support for his Oyo South senatorial bid and the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.