The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by some members of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and suspected supporters of the Park Management System (PMS) to destroy and deface the campaign billboards and posters of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  governorship candidate in parts of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The campaign organisation, in a statement on Friday, alleged that a meeting was held earlier in the day around the Gbagi area of Ibadan, where plans to mobilise people to vandalise Alli’s campaign materials were allegedly discussed.

The statement, signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation, Bisi Oladele, named two individuals, identified as Hollified, also known as King of Boys, and Akin Owo, as allegedly being involved in the meeting.

The organisation further alleged that Egbeda, Ibadan North-East, Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas had been identified as major targets because of the number of Alli’s campaign billboards and posters in the areas.

“Our intelligence revealed that Egbeda, Ibadan North-East, Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas of Ibadan, where the APC gubernatorial candidate enjoys high domination of billboards and posters due to massive acceptance and love by the people, have been marked as primary targets,” the statement said.

The campaign organisation claimed that mobilisation was already underway for the alleged operation, which it said was planned for the early hours of Saturday.

It urged the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services in the state and other security agencies to investigate the allegation and take preventive measures to protect lives and property.

“We call on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Director of Department of State Services (DSS) in Oyo State and other security agencies to act fast, investigate this plot and ensure protection of lives and property, including campaign materials which are legally deployed,” it said.

The organisation also appealed to members and supporters of the APC to remain calm and avoid retaliation, stressing that no one should take the law into their own hands.

“We advise all APC members and supporters across the state to remain calm, law-abiding and resist provocation by miscreants who are in a desperate mood,” the statement added.

The campaign organisation accused its political opponents of attempting to use the alleged vandalism to create tension ahead of the 2027 elections.

It also called on Governor Seyi Makinde, whom it described as the chief security officer of the state, to caution his supporters against actions capable of disrupting peace in the state.

However, the allegations contained in the statement had not been independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

The organisation said the APC remained committed to issue-based campaigns and urged political parties and their supporters to focus on issues before the people of Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections.

The media aide to the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Oyo South, Hon. Aderemi Oseni,  Com. Idowu Ayodele, has dismissed allegations that his principal deliberately excluded the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, from his campaign activities.

‎Idowu described the allegation by a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo, SAN, as unfounded, saying it was based on hearsay rather than facts.

‎Adebayo had, in a Facebook post on Friday, accused Oseni of not being a team player and alleged that the lawmaker deliberately left Alli out of his campaign billboards across Oyo South Senatorial District.

The former Attorney-General described the alleged action as anti-party and unfortunate, urging Oseni to retrace his steps in the interest of party unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‎Adebayo also appealed to the APC leadership in Oyo State to intervene and ensure a united and coordinated campaign structure.

‎However, Idowu, while reacting to the allegation, urged the former Attorney-General to verify his facts before making such claims.

‎“I cannot pre-empt your reason or say exactly what informed your decision or the motive behind your post.

“But knowing your nature and what you stand for, I believe your submissions on issues like this should not be based on hearsay. They should be based on facts, proper checks, genuine information and, where necessary, investigation,” he said.

‎Idowu said contrary to the allegation, Oseni had sponsored and erected no fewer than 20 billboards across Oyo South featuring Alli.

“For the record, there are no fewer than twenty billboards presently across Oyo South Senatorial District, sponsored and erected by Hon. Aderemi Oseni, featuring the APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli,” he stated.
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‎According to him, Oseni’s support for Alli was not limited to billboard publicity, as the lawmaker had also actively campaigned and solicited support for the APC governorship candidate, President Bola Tinubu and other candidates of the party.

“Oseni did not just sponsor or erect billboards. He also actively campaigned and solicited support for President Tinubu, Senator Alli and other APC candidates.

“This is a known fact, and Senator Alli himself can attest to it,” Idowu added.

The media aide urged Adebayo to verify the information and correct the impression created by his post.

“I therefore expect you, as a man of honour and integrity, to do the needful by verifying the facts and honourably debunking the falsehood contained in your post,” he stressed.

Idowu also appealed to APC leaders and stakeholders in the state to exercise caution in their public statements, warning that unverified allegations could create unnecessary tension among party leaders.

The Department of State Services will on Thursday, September 17, re-arraign five men accused of abducting pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15.

The suspects are also accused of complicity in the subsequent killing of two of the victims.

They will face a six-count amended charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, on behalf of the Federal Government.

The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.

The Federal Government alleges that the defendants belong to Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as Ansaru, a terrorist organisation.

The re-arraignment was initially scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, but could not proceed after the first defendant, Muhammad, objected to the lawyers assigned to represent the group.

A Deputy Director of the Legal Aid Council, Akilaluyel Shettima, had announced his appearance for all five defendants before the court.

Muhammad, speaking on behalf of the others, told the trial judge, Justice Salim Ibrahim, that they had previously been represented by a lawyer, Bala Dakum, and wanted him to continue handling their defence.

The objection triggered a dispute over the defendants’ constitutional right to choose their counsel.

Oyedepo urged the court to respect that right, stressing that the DSS was a law-abiding institution committed to justice rather than the persecution of the accused.

Justice Ibrahim subsequently adjourned the re-arraignment until Thursday, September 17.

The judge directed the defendants to contact their preferred lawyer and ensure his appearance in court.

He also ordered the DSS to grant the defendants access to the lawyer to allow them to prepare adequately for their defence.

The five men remain defendants in the case, and the allegations against them have not been proved in court.