The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has told the Allied Peoples Movement to first “find its feet” politically before presenting Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for the 2027 presidential election, accusing the governor of allegedly paralysing the 33 local government areas in the state.

The organisation said the APM’s endorsement of Makinde was coming at a time when the governor’s record at the grassroots was already being questioned, particularly over the running of the local government system.

The campaign organisation made its position known in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, in reaction to the APM’s call on President Bola Tinubu to step aside for Makinde.

Oladele said it was not enough for the APM to declare support for a presidential aspirant, arguing that the party must first demonstrate that it had the political structure and nationwide reach required to prosecute a serious presidential campaign.

According to him, a candidate seeking to lead Nigeria should first be able to point to a convincing record of governance and political strength at home.

He said, “APM’s Makinde is averse to the third tier of government in Nigeria, and this is evident in his seven-year anti-local government administration in Oyo State.

“Declaring an ambition is one thing; building the political structure required to prosecute a nationwide presidential election is another entirely.

“The APM should tell Nigerians how extensive its electoral structures are across the federation and demonstrate its capacity to compete effectively across the states and the Federal Capital Territory.”

The organisation made the 33 local government areas in Oyo State the centre of its criticism of Makinde, saying the local government remains too important to be reduced to a political talking point.

It argued that local governments were the closest level of government to the people and should serve as the main vehicle for taking development to communities.

The statement added, “More importantly, even Governor Seyi Makinde, whom the APM now parades as its presidential candidate, has serious political battles to fight in his home state of Oyo where he has paralyzed the 33 local governments in the last seven years.

“In fact, he is gasping for breath politically in the state.

“A man seeking to conquer Nigeria must first demonstrate compelling political strength on his own turf. Charity, as the saying goes, begins at home.”

The Alli campaign organisation further questioned the APM’s capacity to mount a nationwide presidential campaign, asking the party to demonstrate its electoral presence across the country rather than relying on public statements.

It also said the 2027 presidential election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to examine the records, policies and programmes of the various contenders.

The organisation cited the student loan scheme, establishment of new federal universities, construction of highways and reconstruction of inter-state and inter-city roads as some of the initiatives it said would feature in the assessment of the Tinubu administration.

It maintained that political power at the federal level should not be viewed separately from what candidates had done at the grassroots.

The statement said whoever aspired to lead Nigeria must be prepared to administer the country’s 768 local government areas and the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

The APM had not, as of the time of filing this report, responded to the allegations made by the Alli campaign organisation.

A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Adebayo Mutalubi Ojo, has called on residents of the state to support the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, in the 2027 governorship election.

Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Ibadan indigene, made the call in a personally signed statement on Thursday titled, “A Governor That Oyo State Needs In 2027.”

The former commissioner said the state needed a governor who would be selfless, compassionate and independent, with the administrative experience to move the state forward.

He said, “Going forward, Oyo State deserves a Governor who is an astute Administrator and who is very compassionate, selfless, not a rent or an arbitrage seeker, not a wheeler-dealer, not a covetous and gluttonous property craze, not a treacherous person, not a pretender, but a firm, independent and not a protege or stooge.”

Ojo subsequently urged the people of Oyo State to support Alli, saying the senator possessed the experience he believed was required to lead the state.

He said, “I urge people to support Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli of APC as the next Governor of Oyo State if you truly love Oyo State and you want a liberated Oyo State from modern-day Emperor and Government Reservation Areas Land Merchants.”

A massive crowd of All Progressives Congress (APC) youths and other party supporters on Wednesday welcomed the party’s deputy governorship candidate in Oyo State, Hon. Adesoji Adedeji, to Saki and Ogbomoso.

The two towns were turned into scenes of political excitement as party members converged on the Saki City Hall and Soun Ogunlola Town Hall, Ogbomoso, for an engagement organised under the theme: “Building APC Youths for Electoral Success in Oyo State.”

The programme was part of the party’s grassroots mobilisation and engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Adedeji, who was received amid political and solidarity songs, used the occasion to outline some of the areas he said the proposed APC administration led by Senator Sharafadeen Alli would prioritise if elected.

He identified workers’ welfare, education, youth development, investment and a functional local government system as areas requiring particular attention.

Speaking at the two venues, Adedeji thanked party leaders, candidates and members for the reception, urging APC youths to take a more active role in grassroots mobilisation.

He said the party needed to strengthen its structures beyond Ibadan, stressing that Ogbomoso, Oyo, Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun were important components of the state whose interests should be reflected in political and development strategies.

Adedeji likened the strength of the APC to a forest, saying: “A single tree cannot make a forest.”

He therefore called for greater cooperation among party members across the various zones of the state.

On the proposed administration’s priorities, the deputy governorship candidate said education and youth development would receive attention because of their importance to human capital development.

He also said the administration would seek to attract investors to the state in order to expand economic activities, create opportunities and improve the welfare of residents.

On workers’ welfare, Adedeji said attention would be given to salaries, allowances, gratuities and pensions.

He described workers’ welfare as an important component of the Oyo AHEAD agenda, while noting that infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture were also among the areas highlighted by the APC ticket.

At the Ogbomoso engagement, the APC candidate for Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South and Oriire Federal Constituency, Hon. Olamiju Alao-Akala, commended the party’s leadership and youths for their commitment.

Alao-Akala urged members to remain united and sustain mobilisation at the grassroots ahead of the elections.

The APC Youth Leader, Remi Adepoju, assured the gathering that the youth wing would intensify its mobilisation activities.

He also appealed to party leaders to continue supporting young members and creating opportunities for their participation in the party.

Other speakers at the meetings expressed support for the Alli-Adedeji ticket and called for stronger mobilisation across communities.

The programme featured a minute’s silence in honour of the late former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, followed by prayers.

Among those present were Hon. Odedunmi Bunmi Olubukunmi, Hon. Glory Olalekan, Hon. Sayo Ifatoki, Alhaji Wasiu Olukan and Hon. Ajagbe Ibrahim, alongside other APC leaders, women leaders and members of the City Boys Movement.

In Saki, Adedeji also paid a courtesy visit to the Olere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi.

The engagements in Saki and Ogbomoso formed part of the APC’s ongoing efforts to deepen grassroots contact and increase youth participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.