APC, APM bicker over billboard vandalism, alleged misinformation

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) have clashed over the alleged vandalisation of billboards at various locations in Oyo State and accusations of spreading false information to win the confidence of voters across the state’s 33 local government areas.

The APC, in a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO), accused supporters of Bimbo Adekanmbi, the governorship candidate of the APM, of vandalising billboards belonging to the APC’s Oyo State governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, in several parts of Ibadan, the state capital.

Countering the allegation in a statement, the APM’s Media Director, Yinka Oladoyinbo, said there was no truth in the APC’s claim, accusing the party’s leadership of whipping up sentiments to curry favour with voters.

However, the APC, in a statement, insisted:

“The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation is raising the alarm over the vandalisation of our candidate’s billboards in many parts of Ibadan by supporters of Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, the APM governorship candidate in Oyo State. This came after Senator Alli’s wife and two other APC candidates were attacked in Ibadan last week.

“This sad development, once again, confirms the fear within the circle of Governor Seyi Makinde and his stooge, Adekanmbi, over the impending loss they will face in the forthcoming election.

“Despite the reality of their potential rejection by the good people of Oyo State in the 2027 elections, there is absolutely no justification for Adekanmbi’s supporters to attack our candidates or vandalise APC candidates’ billboards. It is barbaric and completely unacceptable. Nigerian democracy has gone beyond this barbaric act, and our people are wiser now.

“We warn APM hoodlums to desist from this reprehensible act and refrain from stoking tension in the polity. Oyo State is a peaceful state. Governor Seyi Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi should immediately call their goons to order. Oyo State does not deserve violence from them.

“We also call on the Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of this act and ensure they face the wrath of the law. Democracy guarantees every candidate the freedom to campaign in an election, and APC candidates will not surrender this democratic right.

“This latest development sadly brings to the fore our earlier warning about the APM’s destructive venture in a statement we issued last week.

“Now that they, the APM, have shown themselves to be a bunch of reckless and lawless individuals with no regard whatsoever for the law, we call on security agencies to immediately swing into action to prevent a recurrence of these acts of vandalism, which are a sad reminder of the dark days of brigandage.

“The SSACO urges all APC members and supporters in Oyo State to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands. They should resist provocation by Adekanmbi’s hoodlums, as he who is down fears no fall.

“When elected, Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s governance blueprint, christened Oyo AHEAD, will restore the glory of Oyo State and put our dear state on a faster development path for the benefit of all.”

Reacting to the development, the APM said the APC had attempted to blame the party and its governorship candidate, Honourable Bimbo Adekanmbi, for the alleged destruction of its billboards in some parts of Ibadan, the state capital.

The APM Governorship Campaign Council in the state said unequivocally that it had nothing to do with whatever happened to the APC’s campaign materials and should not be dragged into the matter, if the alleged vandalisation occurred.

The party strongly warned the APC and its candidate to desist from linking Adekanmbi and the APM to any act of violence involving the APC and its members. It said the past seven years of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration had been characterised by peaceful coexistence and development.

“The APC should stop raising unsubstantiated allegations against Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, a well-known man of peace who has never been associated with any activity that can lead to the destruction of other people’s property.

“We want the APC and its handlers to know that no amount of falsehood and unfounded allegations against Adekanmbi and the APM can stop them from being defeated at the polls in 2027.

“The people of the state are well aware of the tactics of the APC and its candidate and are familiar with their practice of spreading lies and falsehood to endear themselves to the people, a development that has recurred since electioneering gained momentum.

“We recall that a few days ago, the APC orchestrated a false narrative when it attempted to blame its internal crisis on APM members in the state, claiming that some of its leaders were attacked by APM members during some of its engagements.

“Only two days ago, the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation extended the frontier of its deceit when it claimed that there was an outbreak of diphtheria in the state.

“It is obvious that the APC governorship candidate and his party have no tangible issues or programmes with which to convince the people to vote for them at the polls, hence their resort to deception and blackmail.

“However, the people who have experienced good governance and excellent service delivery under Governor Seyi Makinde in the last seven years will not return to the dark era, as they are wiser and convinced that continuity is the best option to sustain and extend the state’s development.

“We, therefore, appeal to security operatives in the state to thoroughly investigate the allegation, ascertain the authenticity of the claim and expose those behind the act.

“We also appeal to our members to remain peaceful and go about their electioneering activities without fear, believing that the security agencies are capable of ensuring the safety of their lives and property.”