OYO APC CANDIDATE’S CAMP EXPLAINS VIRAL VIDEO OF STUDENT SITTING ON HIS LAP

The campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has explained the circumstances surrounding a viral video showing a student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, sitting on the politician’s lap during a meeting.

The video, which circulated widely on social media, generated reactions over the interaction between Alli and the unidentified student. The footage also showed the politician briefly touching the student’s lap, prompting some social media users to attach different interpretations to the encounter.

However, Alli’s campaign team has rejected suggestions that the incident had any inappropriate or sexual undertone. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the organisation said the encounter occurred when a group of students from the institution’s Department of Banking and Finance visited Alli at his campaign office in Mokola, Ibadan.

According to the campaign, the students had gone to the office to invite the APC candidate to participate in their programme and also conduct an interview with him. The team explained that the number of students present exceeded the available seating capacity at the time of the visit.

It said the lack of sufficient chairs resulted in Alli asking one of the students to sit on his lap so that the planned interaction and interview could continue.

The campaign organisation described the decision as a spontaneous and “fatherly gesture”, insisting that there was no inappropriate intention behind it. It accused some online platforms and individuals of deliberately presenting the incident in a manner designed to create controversy around the candidate.

The team particularly condemned what it described as attempts to sexualise an interaction that it said was simply between a political leader and students who had visited his office. It urged members of the public to consider the circumstances surrounding the encounter rather than relying solely on interpretations of a short video clip.

It further argued that people familiar with Alli’s relationship with young people would understand his disposition towards them and his approach to interacting with students and youths.

The campaign also appealed to media organisations and social media users to exercise caution and responsibility when reporting incidents involving public figures. It warned that sensational reporting and unverified interpretations could damage individuals’ reputations and unnecessarily inflame political tensions.

The organisation described the reactions to the video as “cheap political blackmail” and maintained that the incident should not distract from the issues surrounding the 2027 Oyo State governorship election.

According to the campaign team, the forthcoming election should instead be centred on policies, leadership capacity, competence, development and the welfare of residents.

The controversy comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State. Alli, who is the APC candidate for the contest, is expected to campaign across the state as the party begins preparations for the election.

While the video has generated debate online, Alli’s campaign has maintained that the footage does not accurately reflect the circumstances of the meeting and has urged the public to disregard what it described as misleading narratives surrounding the incident.

The campaign organisation reiterated that the students had visited Alli in connection with their programme and interview, and that the unusual seating arrangement occurred because there were not enough chairs for everyone present.