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.
