The 2027 governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi, has denied responsibility for allegations surrounding N30 billion said to have gone missing during his time as Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning under the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
Adekanmbi, who served as Commissioner for Finance in the Ajimobi administration, said the allegation should be separated from the Oyo State Ministry of Finance, insisting that the money in question concerned local government and that he had no involvement in the meetings where the alleged transactions took place.
Revisiting the issue on Tuesday on Arise News’ The Morning Show, the former commissioner maintained that the alleged transactions being referred to were outside his responsibility, stressing that he was never part of the Joint Accounts Committee (JAC) meetings.
He said: “The 30 billion, I didn’t say it got missing. You must separate the Oyo State Government from the local government. The money went missing in local government. I never attended one JAC meeting. The money is there, the records are there, the resignations should focus on local government of which I have absolutely no impact, none at all.”
Adekanmbi’s comments come against the backdrop of renewed attention to his record in government as he seeks to succeed Governor Seyi Makinde in 2027.
Vanguard had previously reported that Adekanmbi, a former Commissioner for Finance under Ajimobi, emerged as the APM governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The party affirmed his candidacy at its governorship primary in Ibadan in May.
Beyond the N30 billion issue, Adekanmbi also addressed his political relationship with Makinde and his position on the 2027 presidential election and his plans to support Seyi Makinde’s presidential bid.
On his emergence as the APM governorship candidate and suggestions that Makinde personally imposed him on the party, Adekanmbi said there was a process involving consultations across the state.
