The camp of Senator Sharafadeen Alli appears increasingly rattled following the recent interview granted by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Honourable Bimbo Adekanmbi, on Fresh FM Ibadan.
Adekanmbi’s appearance on the Political Circuit programme has already triggered a fresh political exchange, particularly over the contentious issue of local government autonomy. During the interview, he challenged Senator Alli to explain how he intended to deliver the autonomy he has promised if elected governor, arguing that the issue involves constitutional, legislative and administrative processes beyond the unilateral powers of a state governor.
First came the statement from Senator Alli’s campaign organisation, threatening legal action over allegations made during the political exchange. We dare them to follow through. If they believe their position is strong, the appropriate place to test it is before the relevant authorities and, where necessary, the courts.
Then came an article titled “Electing Adekanmbi as Oyo Governor Will Spell Total Doom for Oyo LGs,” a classic example of political fearmongering disguised as analysis. The article is built around assumptions, exaggerated predictions and imagined scenarios rather than demonstrable evidence. It attempts to construct a picture of impending catastrophe without establishing credible facts showing that such an outcome is either inevitable or even likely.
At the heart of the argument is a deliberate misrepresentation of Adekanmbi’s position.
The writer takes Adekanmbi’s statement that no state government can simply “grant” local government autonomy and attempts to turn it into evidence that he opposes local government autonomy altogether. Nothing could be further from the position he articulated.
The constitutional reality is straightforward: local government autonomy is not a personal favour that governors can simply hand out at will. The relationship between the federal, state and local governments is governed by Nigeria’s constitutional and legal framework. The Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment on local government financial autonomy has also placed the issue firmly within the national legal and political conversation.
Therefore, acknowledging that a governor cannot unilaterally rewrite the constitutional framework is not the same thing as opposing autonomy.
Indeed, Adekanmbi’s argument was that politicians should explain the practical and legal pathway through which they intend to implement their promises rather than reduce a complex constitutional issue to campaign rhetoric. That distinction is important in a serious political debate.
Yet the article constructs an entire doomsday narrative around that position, warning of the alleged collapse of grassroots governance should Adekanmbi become governor. Such claims hardly qualify as balanced political analysis without concrete evidence.
Beyond the alarmist tone, the article reveals something else: nervousness.
Since Adekanmbi began engaging directly with the people of Oyo State and presenting his vision for the future, political attention around his candidacy has intensified. His recent Fresh FM appearance generated substantial discussion because he addressed issues ranging from local government administration and public finance to workers’ welfare and infrastructure. He has also publicly promised to build on the development direction associated with Governor Seyi Makinde rather than abandon it.
No serious political candidate should be judged by fear campaigns. Candidates should be judged by their records, policies, competence and capacity to deliver.
The irony is that while critics portray grassroots governance in Oyo State as if it has completely collapsed, the state government continues to point to interventions across the 33 local government areas, including rural roads, healthcare and other infrastructure projects. The government says its Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project includes the construction of 1,000 kilometres of rural access roads, while its healthcare programme has focused on functional primary healthcare centres across the state’s electoral wards.
That does not mean every problem has disappeared, nor should legitimate criticism be silenced. It simply means that political arguments should be tested against evidence rather than dramatic predictions.
The same principle applies to the Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy. Its implementation involves constitutional and institutional questions that cannot responsibly be reduced to the simplistic suggestion that one governor can single-handedly create or abolish autonomy.
As Adekanmbi asked during his interview: in which APC-controlled state does local government autonomy currently exist? That question deserves an answer based on facts rather than political anger.
More importantly, the debate should move beyond personalities. If Senator Alli believes he can implement local government autonomy immediately upon assuming office, voters deserve to know precisely how he intends to do so within the constitutional and legal framework.
Likewise, if Adekanmbi is promising continuity with the existing administration, voters are entitled to ask what exactly he intends to preserve, what he intends to change and how he intends to improve it.
Adekanmbi has already positioned himself as a candidate seeking continuity with what he considers the positive aspects of the Omituntun vision. He has also outlined specific commitments, including addressing verified outstanding compensation claims relating to the Ibadan Circular Road within his first 100 days if elected, while promising attention to workers’ welfare, internal roads and economic development.
Continuity, however, does not mean duplication. It means sustaining what works while correcting what does not.
Ultimately, the people of Oyo State are discerning enough to distinguish between legitimate scrutiny and political fearmongering. The 2027 contest will not be won merely by declaring that an opponent represents “doom.” It will be determined by the candidate who convinces voters that he possesses the competence, credibility and vision to govern.
While political opponents remain preoccupied with manufacturing fears about tomorrow, Bimbo Adekanmbi appears focused on presenting his own argument for the future of Oyo State.
And perhaps that is precisely why the political temperature is rising.
Signed:
Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju
Co-Director (Media and Publicity)
Oyo APM Presidential and Gubernatorial Campaign Council
October 25, 2026
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