Following the resounding success of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) governorship campaign flag-off at Durbar Stadium, Oyo, on Saturday, the party’s governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, has told his All Progressives Congress (APC) rival, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, to begin preparing his concession speech ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship election, insisting that his defeat is inevitable.
Expressing confidence in his chances, Adekanmbi said: “I look forward to Senator Alli’s congratulatory message because he cannot escape defeat.”
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Co-Director, Media and Publicity of the Oyo State APM Campaign Council (OYSACC).
OYSACC dismissed a statement by the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) on the APM campaign flag-off, describing it as a pathetic exercise in political self-deception. According to the council, no amount of propaganda can diminish the overwhelming success of Saturday’s historic rally in Oyo.
The council described SSACO’s claim of poor attendance as “the biggest political joke of the year,” wondering how a gathering that attracted tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters, party faithful, community leaders, youths, women and residents from across Oyo State could suddenly be classified as poorly attended.
“The truth is simple: SSACO saw the crowd, Oyo people saw the crowd, the media saw the crowd, and the entire state saw the crowd. The only people claiming otherwise are those whose political calculations were shattered by the massive show of support for Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi.”
OYSACC said SSACO’s statement was not a genuine reaction to the rally but a public display of panic triggered by Adekanmbi’s growing popularity and the increasing acceptance of the APM across the state.
“If the rally was truly a failure, as SSACO claims, why are they so rattled? Why devote an entire statement to an event they insist was insignificant? Their reaction betrays fear, insecurity and the painful realization that the political landscape favours the APM, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde and Hon Adekanmbi.”
OYSACC noted that while SSACO was busy manufacturing imaginary failures and editing pictures and visuals, the people of Oyo State were demonstrating their confidence in a candidate whose message of continuity, development and inclusive governance continues to resonate across the state.
“Crowds remain one of the clearest indicators of public mood. What happened in Oyo on Saturday was a loud and unmistakable statement that the people are ready to rally behind Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi,” the Council said.
OYSACC further described Senator Alli’s camp as suffering from “crowd-induced trauma,” having expected a lacklustre outing but instead witnessing a rally that exceeded expectations and generated statewide attention.
“SSACO should save itself from further embarrassment. Attempting to convince Oyo people not to believe what they saw with their own eyes is an impossible mission.
This desperate distortion of reality only exposes the weakness of its argument and the absence of any compelling message for the electorate.”
The council said it was ironic that SSACO accused others of lacking grassroots support while failing to address issues, programmes, policies and solutions that directly impact the people.
“A serious campaign organisation would be discussing jobs, infrastructure, security, agriculture and economic growth. Unfortunately, SSACO appears more interested in counting chairs, editing photographs in its imagination and inventing narratives that collapse under the weight of evidence.”
OYSACC maintained that the massive turnout at the flag-off reflected the goodwill generated by Governor Makinde’s developmental strides and the widespread belief that Adekanmbi possesses the competence, experience and vision needed to move Oyo State forward.
“The bitterness coming from SSACO is understandable. Saturday’s rally destroyed the false narrative that the APM lacks support. What they witnessed was not merely a campaign flag-off; it was the emergence of a movement gathering momentum across the length and breadth of Oyo State.”
OYSACC reiterated its commitment to an issue-based campaign, urging political actors to focus on policies and programmes rather than denial, propaganda and wishful thinking.
“The road to 2027 has begun. While others are struggling to explain away an obvious success, we remain focused on engaging the people, presenting our vision and building the broad coalition that will deliver victory.
No amount of anger, distortion or political blackmail can stop an idea whose time has come,” OYSACC said.
The statement added that the APM Campaign Council remains confident that the enthusiasm displayed at the Oyo rally is a clear indication of the growing support for Adekanmbi’s candidacy across the state ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
