Team Arapaja, a political group loyal to former Oyo State Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja, has challenged the All Progressives Movement governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, to address allegations against him before making accusations against political opponents.

The group made the call in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Ibrahim Sheriff, in reaction to Adekanmbi’s recent appearance on Fresh FM, where he reportedly accused the All Progressives Congress candidate of embezzling funds while serving as chairman of Ibadan North Local Government.

Adekanmbi was also reported to have claimed that he had evidence to back up his allegation.

But Team Arapaja dismissed the claim as political mudslinging, questioning why Adekanmbi had yet to make the alleged evidence public despite Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s previous electoral contests, including the 2023 Oyo South Senatorial District election.

The group said voters should not take serious allegations at face value but should demand evidence and examine the records of those seeking public office.

It also questioned Adekanmbi’s record during his time as acting chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue and commissioner for finance, alleging that some staff members were subjected to humiliation and mistreatment under his leadership.

The statement further raised questions over allegations concerning ₦30bn in local government funds during his tenure as finance commissioner, challenging him to publicly address the matter.

Team Arapaja, however, did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate the allegations in its statement.

The group also questioned Adekanmbi’s political relationship with Governor Seyi Makinde, citing his reported admission that he associated with the governor for nearly seven years after the death of his former political benefactor, the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

It alleged that Adekanmbi’s relationship with Makinde raised questions about his political loyalty and suggested that he should explain his role during the period.

The group further challenged him to respond to allegations that he provided the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with information about properties belonging to the Ajimobi family.

Team Arapaja said the issues deserved clarification, particularly given what it described as the role of the Ajimobi family in bringing Adekanmbi from the private sector into public service.

Quoting the saying, “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands,” the group questioned whether Adekanmbi had adequately addressed the allegations it raised before criticising other politicians.

It also recalled the controversy surrounding the 2023 governorship election campaign, when Governor Makinde reportedly made allegations against the then APC governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin.

The group urged politicians to avoid making accusations they could not substantiate, warning that such claims could distract voters from issues of governance and accountability.

As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, Team Arapaja urged residents of Oyo State to scrutinise the records, integrity and competence of candidates rather than be swayed by campaign rhetoric.

It challenged Adekanmbi to respond to the issues raised and provide evidence for his own allegations against political opponents.

The campaign organisation of Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, has accused Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi of making false allegations against the senator in a desperate attempt to damage his reputation ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The organisation, SSACO, said Adekanmbi was distorting historical facts to discredit Alli rather than engaging in meaningful discussions about the development of Oyo State.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Bisi Oladele, the campaign organisation described the allegations made by Adekanmbi during a radio interview as politically motivated, insisting that they would not erase Alli’s record in public office.

Defending the senator’s tenure as chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, SSACO said Alli maintained prompt salary payments and prioritised workers’ welfare, earning recognition from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State.

The organisation argued that the financial difficulties experienced by local governments following the Federal Military Government’s January 1993 policy on staff promotions and salary increases were not peculiar to Alli’s administration.

According to the statement, the problem affected local governments across the country because of inadequate allocations to implement the policy. It added that the difficulties continued beyond Alli’s tenure and were later addressed through institutional measures, including the establishment of the National Primary Education Commission in 1997 and the introduction of first-line charges for teachers’ salaries by 1999.

SSACO accused Adekanmbi of using the historical challenges to create a misleading impression of Alli’s record, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the crisis should not be ignored in assessing the senator’s performance.

The organisation challenged Adekanmbi to produce the report on which he based his corruption allegation against Alli, warning that it would pursue legal action if the claims were found to be defamatory.

It maintained that public officials should be held accountable through verifiable facts, not allegations designed to damage political opponents, and insisted that Alli had nothing to fear from a fair examination of his record.

The campaign organisation also turned its attention to Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, accusing it of weakening local government administration and limiting the ability of councils to meet the needs of residents at the grassroots.

It said Alli would make the revitalisation of the state’s 33 local government areas a priority if elected governor in 2027.

According to SSACO, his proposed agenda would focus on strengthening the administrative and financial capacity of local councils, enabling them to deliver services more effectively and respond to the needs of their communities.

The organisation also identified the reconstruction of feeder and access roads as a priority, saying better road networks would ease the movement of people and goods, support farmers and traders, and open up more economic opportunities across the state.

SSACO expressed confidence in Alli’s prospects ahead of the 2027 election, insisting that its campaign would focus on his record, development plans and the need to restore effective grassroots governance.

It urged Adekanmbi to produce evidence to support his allegations and engage in substantive debate on the state’s future, rather than what it described as attempts to distort history for political advantage.

An All Progressives Congress chieftain in Oyo State, Hon. Ponmile Omidiji, has donated a brand-new bus to Ponmile Progressive Mobilization to strengthen the group’s activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Omidiji, who is the chairman of Ponmile Progressive Movement and Chief Executive Officer of Agbele Sporting Club, said the vehicle would facilitate members’ movement and help the group extend its grassroots mobilisation across the state.

Ponmile Progressive Mobilization operates as a subsidiary of Ponmile Progressive Movement under the motto, “Mobilizing for All Progressives Congress.”

The organisation said the bus would improve its capacity to reach communities, coordinate members and promote awareness of the APC’s programmes and agenda ahead of the 2027 polls.

Omidiji is a former National Financial Secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and a former supervisor at the local government level during the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

He also served as Deputy Youth Leader of the Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council during the 2023 election cycle.

The organisation said the vehicle would be deployed for outreach and other activities across Oyo State as preparations for the next general elections gather momentum.