More to come on all party candidates.
Tension has reportedly emerged around the ongoing political consultations ahead of the 2027 Oyo State governorship election following claims that residents in Igbeti and Kishi confronted the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, and his running mate, Hon. Adesoji Adedeji, during a visit to the Oke-Ogun axis.
According to the account circulating online, what was expected to be a routine consultative engagement allegedly turned confrontational, with some residents reportedly chanting and protesting against the visiting politicians. The reports further alleged that stones and water sachets were thrown towards the convoy, forcing the politicians to leave the area quickly.
However, the allegations have been strongly rejected by Senator Alli’s campaign organisation, which described the viral report as “blatant falsehood” and politically motivated propaganda. The campaign said Alli and his entourage were in Igbeti for a familiarisation visit and were warmly received by residents and community stakeholders. It challenged those circulating the allegation to produce verifiable evidence, including photographs, videos, exact locations and identifiable eyewitnesses.
That conflicting account makes it important to distinguish between what has been alleged online and what has been independently established.
Senator Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, is now formally positioned at the centre of the APC’s 2027 governorship campaign. The party unveiled him as its governorship candidate in July and presented Adesoji Adedeji as his running mate.
Alli had earlier declared his intention to contest the governorship, saying his experience in public service, including his time as chairman of Ibadan North Local Government and Secretary to the Oyo State Government, had prepared him for the responsibilities of governing the state.
The controversy is particularly significant because Igbeti and Kishi are located within Oke-Ogun, an area where infrastructure, agriculture, transportation and economic development remain important political issues. Interestingly, Alli recently highlighted Federal Government road interventions in the area, including the proposed rehabilitation of the Igbeti Road and construction of the Igbeti-Soro-Kishi Road, as part of more than N1.137 trillion worth of road projects approved across Oyo State.
The competing narratives therefore raise a larger political question: how will voters in Oke-Ogun judge political promises when the 2027 campaign gathers momentum?
For residents, the critical issues are likely to extend beyond party slogans. Employment, agricultural support, roads, transportation, access to markets, empowerment for traders and artisans, and visible government presence are expected to remain central to political conversations across the state.
The alleged confrontation—if independently established—would represent a serious warning for any candidate seeking statewide acceptance. Conversely, if the campaign’s denial is correct, the episode would demonstrate how easily unverified political claims can become viral narratives in an increasingly heated electoral environment.
For now, the two sides tell completely different stories.
One narrative portrays an angry electorate demanding accountability and better representation. The other describes a peaceful grassroots engagement allegedly distorted by political opponents.
What remains undeniable is that the 2027 contest in Oyo State is already becoming intensely competitive. Senator Alli and Adedeji are taking their campaign to communities across the state, while the APC has also been building its campaign structure ahead of the election.
Whether the Igbeti controversy eventually fades away or becomes an early symbol of the political battle ahead, one lesson is already clear: 2027 will be fought not only at rallies and party meetings, but also over competing narratives about performance, acceptance, accountability and grassroots trust.
And with more party candidates expected to emerge and more political tours to come, the people of Oyo State will ultimately have the final word at the ballot box.
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