Oyo APM gov candidate challenges Alli to present Senate scorecard

The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi, has said the people of the state would not reward Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s alleged incompetence at the National Assembly with an elevation to the Agodi Government House.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Co-Director, Media and Publicity of the state APM Campaign Council, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Saturday.

The council said it was increasingly concerned that rather than campaign on the strength of measurable achievements as the current representative of Oyo South Senatorial District, Alli had continued to rely on references to political offices he occupied in the past.

It said, “The senator’s persistent emphasis on his political history raises serious questions about the substance of his stewardship in the National Assembly and suggests a lack of accomplishments capable of inspiring public confidence ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

“Public office holders seeking higher responsibilities must first demonstrate excellence in their current assignments. Leadership progression should be driven by performance, competence and measurable impact rather than political longevity or a succession of titles.”

The council argued that before seeking the mandate to govern the entire state, Alli owed the people of Oyo South and Oyo State a comprehensive account of his stewardship in the Senate, including his legislative contributions, constituency projects, empowerment initiatives and other tangible interventions.

The organisation further stated that Alli’s governorship ambition amounted to asking the people of Oyo State to reward underperformance with promotion.

He said, “The people of Oyo cannot be persuaded to reward underperformance with elevation. The question before the electorate is simple: if a senator cannot point to a compelling record of achievements while representing one senatorial district, apart from billboards, on what basis should he be entrusted with the responsibility of governing an entire state?

“Public office is not a ladder on which inadequate performance is rewarded with promotion. The governorship of Oyo State should be reserved for individuals whose records clearly demonstrate impact, innovation, accountability and results.

“The governorship is not a retirement benefit for political veterans, nor is it a consolation prize for occupying public office. It is a serious responsibility that should be entrusted only to individuals who have demonstrated capacity through measurable achievements and service delivery.”

The organisation noted that across the country, several first-term senators and public office holders seeking higher offices were campaigning on the strength of visible projects, legislative accomplishments and transformative interventions that had directly improved the lives of their constituents.

It therefore questioned why Alli appeared reluctant to make his Senate scorecard the centrepiece of his political engagements.

“What the people want to hear from Senator Alli is not a catalogue of offices previously occupied. They want to know what he has done with the mandate they entrusted to him.

“They want evidence of effective representation. They want to see transformative constituency projects, legislative achievements, youth empowerment programmes, economic interventions and development initiatives that have positively impacted the lives of the people of Oyo South.

“The burden of proof rests squarely on Senator Alli. If he believes he deserves promotion from representing one senatorial district to governing the entire state, then he must first convince the people that his current assignment has been executed with distinction,” he said.

The campaign organisation further argued that the 2027 governorship election would be a referendum on competence, accountability and results rather than an exercise in recycling political résumés.

It maintained that Oyo voters were increasingly demanding practical leadership and demonstrable outcomes, adding that political titles and historical affiliations could no longer substitute for tangible achievements in public office.

The organisation also stated that Adekanmbi’s Roadmap for Continued Development offered a clear alternative vision for Oyo State, built on accountability, economic growth, infrastructure development, job creation and improved living standards.

It insisted that the debate ahead of 2027 should focus on ideas, performance and the ability to deliver measurable results rather than on a parade of former political offices.

The organisation therefore challenged Alli to publicly present a comprehensive scorecard of his tenure in the Senate and subject his record to public scrutiny.

“Democracy demands accountability. Every elected representative must be prepared to account for his stewardship whenever he seeks renewed public confidence.

“The people of Oyo deserve leaders who can defend their ambitions with verifiable achievements, not politicians who expect past titles to substitute for present performance.

“Ultimately, the governorship of Oyo should not be awarded on the basis of political history. It should be earned through proven competence, measurable achievements and a demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of the people.

“Oyo voters will not reward incompetence in the Senate with a governorship seat. Anyone aspiring to lead this state must first present convincing evidence of success in the office he currently occupies.

“The people of Oyo will vote for Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi of the APM because his record in public office reflects a consistent commitment to competence, effective leadership and measurable results,” the statement stressed.