By Oscar Okhifo
The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has accused supporters of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) of attacking the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Alhaja Tawakalitu Alli, and two APC candidates during separate campaign activities in Ibadan.
According to the campaign organisation, the incidents occurred on Wednesday during a medical outreach organised by Mrs Alli at Ibikunle House, Ayeye, and separate campaign activities involving the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, and the party’s candidate for Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency, Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo.
The SSACO alleged that Mrs Alli was attacked during the medical outreach, while the campaign trains of Oseni and Olunloyo-Oshinowo were attacked at Agbaje Market, Orita-Merin, and Idi-Arere respectively.
In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the campaign organisation described the alleged attacks as unwarranted and barbaric, accusing APM supporters of attempting to return Oyo State to an era of political violence.
It called on Governor Seyi Makinde and the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, to rein in their supporters and urged security agencies to investigate the incidents and prosecute anyone found culpable.
The statement read in part:
“The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) is at the least miffed by the unwarranted and barbaric attacks by Allied People’s Movement (APM) hoodlums on Alhaja Tawakalitu Alli during a medical outreach she organised at Ibikunle House, Ayeye, Ibadan, on Wednesday.
“Sponsored hoodlums also attacked the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni; and the party’s candidate for Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency, Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo, during separate campaign events at Agbaje Market, Orita-Merin, and Idi-Arere, Ibadan on the same Wednesday.”
The organisation said the alleged incidents threatened the safety of political actors and residents, insisting that APC candidates would continue to exercise their constitutional rights to associate, assemble and campaign within the law.
It also accused Makinde and Adekanmbi of responsibility for the alleged attacks, a claim for which it provided no evidence in the statement.
“Needless to stress that this ugly development which endangers the lives of political actors and innocent residents of Oyo State is a deliberate attempt by Governor Seyi Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi to drag the peaceful Oyo State they inherited in 2019 back to the days of notorious violence which the state has already forgotten,” the statement said.
The SSACO further urged the governor, whom it described as the chief security officer of the state, to ensure the protection of residents regardless of their political affiliations.
It called on the security agencies to “fish out these perpetrators of violence and bring them to book”, saying this would provide justice for victims and serve as a deterrent to future acts of violence.
The campaign organisation also alleged that the attacks were politically motivated, claiming that APC candidates would not be intimidated or prevented from campaigning across the state.
“No threat against APC candidates will stop the imminent defeat of Adekanmbi and other APM candidates in the 2027 general elections,” it said.
The organisation urged political parties and candidates to focus on their programmes and policies rather than resorting to intimidation or violence.
The allegations come amid heightened political activity in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections. Adekanmbi emerged as the APM’s consensus governorship candidate in May 2026 and has continued political engagements across the state.
The latest accusations also come against the backdrop of wider concerns over political violence and compliance with the National Peace Accord as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.
The SSACO maintained that the alleged attacks would not stop APC candidates from campaigning across Oyo State.
However, the allegations against Makinde, Adekanmbi and APM supporters remain claims by the Alli campaign organisation. Their responses to the specific accusations were not contained in the statement.
The circumstances surrounding the reported incidents are expected to be established by the relevant security authorities.