OYO APM CANDIDATE REJECTS CLAIMS OF BEING MAKINDE’S POLITICAL PROXY

The Action Peoples Movement governorship candidate in Oyo State has dismissed claims that his candidacy is being sponsored or controlled by Governor Seyi Makinde. The candidate said he was contesting the 2027 governorship election on his own political platform and should not be described as a surrogate or proxy for the incumbent governor.

He maintained that his decision to seek the governorship was based on his personal political convictions and his desire to offer Oyo residents an alternative ahead of the election. He also rejected suggestions that his participation in the race was designed to divide the opposition or influence the chances of other candidates in favour of the ruling political structure.

The APM candidate said voters should be allowed to assess candidates based on their programmes, experience and capacity to govern rather than on assumptions about who may be backing them. He stressed that political parties and their candidates have the right to participate in the election and present their own positions to the electorate.

The controversy comes as political activities gather pace in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 governorship election. With different parties expected to field candidates, questions over alliances, endorsements and alleged political sponsorship are likely to remain part of the campaign, particularly as major political actors position themselves for the contest.

The candidate urged his supporters to remain focused on the campaign and avoid being distracted by claims surrounding his political affiliation or alleged connections to other politicians. He said the election should ultimately be decided by the people of Oyo State, based on the candidates and the programmes they present to the electorate.