APM campaign council accuses APC of peddling lies over Ibadan violence

Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi Campaign Organisation has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo and its governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, of making unfounded allegations against the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) over recent violent incidents in Ibadan.

The organisation urged the APC and the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) to exercise restraint and allow security agencies to investigate the incidents, warning that politically motivated accusations could heighten tension in the state.

The Deputy Director, Media and Publicity of the Adekanmbi Campaign Organisation, Moses Alao, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday in response to allegations linking APM supporters to recent acts of violence in the state.

ALSO READ: Ogun FRSC Sector Commander, Ogunjobi, dies after brief illness

The organisation particularly faulted allegations that APM members were responsible for the reported killing of a man identified as Ridwan, popularly known as Paul Moore, in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.

It described the allegations as unsubstantiated, arguing that those making them had neither provided sufficient evidence nor identified any individual suspected of carrying out the killing.

“We condemn, without equivocation, the allegations that supporters of the APM are responsible for foisting violence in Oyo State in recent times,” the statement read.

While expressing sympathy over the death, the organisation called on the APC campaign and other political parties to avoid statements capable of escalating political tension.

“While mourning the deceased and praying that God grants repose to his soul, we challenge SSACO to be responsible and sensible at this period so as not to heighten tension in our state and allow criminals to game the system by making all dastardly acts to look like politically-motivated,” it stated.

The campaign organisation also urged the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Oyo State Police Command to caution political parties against making what it described as sensational and unsubstantiated allegations.

It maintained that security agencies should be allowed to investigate the reported incidents and establish the facts without political interference.

“APC, SSACO and other political parties should allow the law enforcement agencies to do their jobs and should not assume that because they can buy bloggers and dictate the slant of their stories, then they have become the law,” the statement added.

The organisation further accused the APC and SSACO of repeatedly attempting to link Governor Seyi Makinde, Adekanmbi and the APM to acts of violence without providing evidence to substantiate the claims.

“It was pathetic that they could brazenly accuse the supporters of the APM presidential candidate, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, and the party’s governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, of being responsible for violence without being able to substantiate the claims,” it said.

The campaign organisation insisted that Makinde, Adekanmbi and the APM were committed to peace, adding that the allegations had no basis.

It also referred to photographs and videos purportedly showing some Accord Party supporters carrying axes at Molete, urging security agencies to investigate the incident alongside other reported cases of violence.

“At least, the public has seen photographs and videos of Accord Party thugs wielding axes at Molete, while claiming to be victims of violence. We are also sure that the security agencies will do their jobs and come up with reports on the other incidents,” the statement said.

The organisation called on the APC and SSACO to exercise caution and refrain from making allegations before investigations were concluded.

“It is sad and irresponsible that APC and SSACO have become desperate and have resorted to peddling lies, writing one-sided reports for online media outlets, which they have instructed never to reach out for other sides to the story,” it added.

The campaign organisation urged residents to remain calm and resist what it described as attempts to influence public opinion through unsubstantiated allegations.

It, however, expressed confidence in the APM’s political prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“But we are assured that residents of Oyo State are resilient and resolute about supporting Governor Makinde for president, Hon. Adekanmbi for Oyo State Governor and will vote the APM in all elections and no amount of lies can change that,” the statement concluded.