The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) Governorship Campaign Council in Oyo State have clashed over comments by Bauchi State Governor and APM national leader, Bala Mohammed, commending President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

While Alli’s campaign organisation interpreted Mohammed’s remarks as exposing contradictions in Governor Seyi Makinde’s reported presidential ambition, the APM campaign council dismissed the interpretation as political manipulation of a routine act of intergovernmental courtesy.

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation had described Makinde’s presidential ambition under the APM as “dead on arrival”, arguing that Mohammed’s public acknowledgement that Tinubu had “done so well” in areas including finance, health and security raised questions about the viability of the project.
In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the organisation said Mohammed’s comments were significant because the Bauchi governor had previously endorsed Makinde and described him as the leader Nigeria needed.

The campaign organisation argued that Mohammed’s assessment of the Tinubu administration indicated that the opposition to the President was not as cohesive as portrayed by supporters of Makinde’s presidential aspiration.
It said, “If one of the principal promoters of Makinde’s presidential ambition truthfully admits that President Tinubu is doing well, what exactly is the justification for Makinde asking Nigerians to replace the President?”
The organisation also alleged that Makinde’s presidential aspiration appeared more like a bargaining strategy ahead of the 2027 political realignment than a viable national project, arguing that a presidential bid required structures, numbers, credibility and alliances.

It also urged Makinde to concentrate on his stewardship in Oyo State, citing issues such as the state’s debt profile, infrastructure, education, healthcare, workers’ welfare and the local economy.
Reacting, the Co-Director, Media and Publicity, Oyo State APM Governorship Campaign Council, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, accused the Alli campaign organisation of attempting to “weaponise” Mohammed’s remarks for political advantage.

Olanrewaju, in a statement on Tuesday, said Mohammed’s comments should be viewed within the context of intergovernmental cooperation and not interpreted as an endorsement of Tinubu or evidence of political realignment.
According to him, governors routinely acknowledge Federal Government interventions in their states without such acknowledgements amounting to political endorsements or changes in allegiance.
“Governor Mohammed’s remarks, viewed in their proper context, amount to an acknowledgment of federal intervention and cooperation,” he said.

Olanrewaju cited Makinde’s acknowledgement of the Federal Government’s role in the rescue of persons kidnapped in Oriire on May 15, arguing that the governor’s statement did not constitute an endorsement of the ruling party or a change in political allegiance.

“The same principle should apply to Mohammed’s remarks. There was no declaration of defection, no announcement of a political alliance and no indication of a change in political alignment,” he said.
He described the attempt to interpret Mohammed’s comments as evidence of political realignment as an effort to create unnecessary controversy ahead of the 2027 elections.

Olanrewaju urged political parties and candidates to focus their campaigns on governance records, policies and programmes, rather than what he described as “political theatrics.”
He said the electorate should be allowed to assess competing positions on security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, employment and economic development before deciding who to support in 2027.
“The real contest should therefore be about who can offer Oyo State the most credible vision for its next phase of development. That is the debate the people deserve,” he said.