The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Oyo South, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has called on youths in the district to shun political violence and hold politicians accountable for their records, promises and performance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Oseni made the call during an engagement meeting with residents of Ilupeju, Idi-Obi, Ayekale, Koloko, Oke-Ibadan, Oje-Aje Ita-Baale and Beyerunka communities in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State. He urged the youths to participate responsibly in the political process and resist attempts by politicians to use them to disrupt the electoral process.

The lawmaker, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), described young people as important stakeholders in the development of Oyo South, the state and the country.

He said his commitment to youth development predated his current political ambition, citing his donation of a fully equipped information and communication technology (ICT) training centre to The Polytechnic, Ibadan, about 18 years ago as one of his early interventions to equip young people with relevant skills.

Oseni also said he had supported 100 young entrepreneurs in his federal constituency with N1 million each to strengthen their businesses. According to him, 82 beneficiaries had received the money, while the remaining 18 were expected to be paid before the expiration of his tenure.

On education, the lawmaker said he had paid examination fees for 1,500 students sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and provided free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration for 2,000 candidates, some of whom, he added, had secured admission into tertiary institutions.

He also listed improvements to school infrastructure, scholarships, bursaries, the provision of work tools for artisans, financial assistance and support for employment opportunities among initiatives aimed at improving young people’s prospects.

Beyond education and entrepreneurship, Oseni said his interventions had extended to community infrastructure and support for different groups across the senatorial district. He listed the distribution of electricity transformers, provision of boreholes and solar-powered streetlights, and construction of bridges among projects undertaken to address community needs. Artisans, traders, market men and women, and religious organisations had also benefited from his support, he added.

Explaining his focus on young people, Oseni said investing in their development was essential to building a peaceful and prosperous society.

“When you build the youth, you are building the nation. All that we are trying to do is to build the youth, give them the necessary support and show them good examples they can follow,” he said.

The APC chieftain cautioned that youths could become vulnerable to manipulation during electioneering, urging them to resist recruitment into political violence. He advised them to engage candidates on their achievements, plans for their communities, commitment to good governance and capacity to provide effective representation.

Oseni expressed confidence in the growing political awareness of youths in Oyo South, saying his interactions with them had strengthened his belief that they could make informed choices and contribute to peaceful elections.

“Typically, as we approach the electioneering period, youths can be impressionable. But from what I have seen today and our engagements so far, we are confident that they will take responsibility for their actions and make the right choices,” he said.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, Oseni reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots engagement and participatory representation.

Idowu said the community-based initiative was designed to give residents the opportunity to communicate their concerns and discuss possible solutions, with issues that could be addressed immediately receiving attention while others would be pursued through sustained engagement.

He added that encouraging young people to participate responsibly in politics remained essential to maintaining peace and protecting the democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Aderemi Oseni, has donated N10m to support the building project of the Zumuratul Faiydah Tijaniyah Ibrahimiyyah of Nigeria, urging voters to prioritise competence and performance over religious affiliation in the 2027 general elections.

Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, made the donation and appeal while addressing members of the Islamic organisation in Ibadan on Tuesday. He cautioned against attempts to make religion the determining factor in the choice of political leaders ahead of the elections.

The lawmaker argued that governance and legislative performance should be the primary considerations in assessing candidates, rather than their religious beliefs. He maintained that Nigeria’s political discourse should focus on the capacity of aspirants to address the country’s challenges and deliver meaningful development.

Oseni said religion remained an important institution for promoting moral values, strengthening communities and encouraging peaceful coexistence, but warned against using it to determine political choices. He urged the electorate to scrutinise candidates’ records, competence and ability to deliver on their promises.

The APC chieftain said his contributions to humanitarian causes and religious organisations had never been restricted by religious differences. According to him, “Before politics, we have been contributing to humanity, development and religious organisations, irrespective of faith. To the glory of God, we have contributed to mosque infrastructure, supported various Islamic initiatives and non-interest cooperatives, among others.”

The federal lawmaker added that no fewer than 13 people had been sponsored for the next Hajj pilgrimage, citing the initiative as part of his support for members of the Muslim community. He maintained that his interventions in religious and community development reflected his commitment to supporting people across different backgrounds.

Oseni, who is seeking election to the Senate in 2027, subsequently urged  members of the organisation to support his ambition and vote for APC candidates in the general elections. He urged them to consider the records and capacity of candidates when making their electoral choices.

Earlier, Fodilat Sheikh Abdulrasheed Olafimihan said he had heard about Oseni’s contributions to his federal constituency and Oyo State. He expressed appreciation for the lawmaker’s interventions,  assuring  him of the group’s support and votes in the forthcoming elections.

The campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has accused supporters of the Allied Peoples Movement governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, of vandalising APC campaign billboards in parts of Ibadan.

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) called on the police and other security agencies to investigate the alleged vandalism and arrest those responsible.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, said billboards bearing the images of Alli and his running mate, Hon. Soji Adedeji, were vandalised in Mokola, Sango, Monatan-Olodo Road, Odo-Ona and the Toll Gate-Iwo Road section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, among other locations.

The organisation linked the alleged vandalism to an earlier incident in which it said Alli’s wife and two other APC candidates were attacked in Ibadan last week.

Describing the incidents as disturbing, SSACO accused supporters of Adekanmbi, who is contesting on the platform of the APM, of attempting to intimidate APC candidates ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The statement read, “The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation is raising the alarm over vandalisation of our candidates’ billboards in many parts of Ibadan by supporters of Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, the APM governorship candidate in Oyo State.

“This came after Senator Alli’s wife and two other APC candidates were attacked in Ibadan, last week.”

The organisation further alleged that the development reflected political tension surrounding the forthcoming election, accusing Governor Seyi Makinde and Adekanmbi of failing to discourage conduct capable of threatening peaceful political engagement.

It said there was no justification for the alleged destruction of campaign materials, insisting that all candidates had the right to campaign without intimidation.

“We warn APM hoodlums to desist from this reprehensible act, and refrain from stoking tension in the polity. Oyo State is a peaceful state. Governor Seyi Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi should immediately call their goons to order. Oyo State does not deserve violence from them,” the statement added.

SSACO urged the Oyo State Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agencies to identify those responsible for the alleged vandalism and ensure that they were prosecuted.

The organisation said the alleged incidents reinforced its earlier concerns about the conduct of the APM, adding that security agencies should act promptly to prevent further attacks on candidates and destruction of campaign materials.

It also appealed to APC members and supporters across the state to remain calm and avoid retaliation.

“The SSACO urges all APC members and supporters in Oyo State to be calm and avoid taking laws into their hands. They should resist provocation by Adekanmbi’s hoodlums,” the statement said.

The organisation added that Alli, if elected, would implement his Oyo AHEAD governance blueprint, which it said was designed to restore the state’s fortunes and accelerate development.