Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has told the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, to face his 2027 governorship contest and stop making attacks against him the centre of his campaign.

Makinde stated this on Monday while receiving APC members who defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, during the Boye Nation and JAF Movement concert.

The defectors, drawn from different parts of Oyo State, were led by Ajiboye Akande Sangogade, popularly known as Boye Nation, a former aide to former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu. Reports on the event said the group formally joined the APM and pledged support for the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

Addressing the gathering, Makinde said those seeking to succeed him should concentrate on telling the people what they intend to do differently rather than making his administration the focus of their campaigns.

He said Alli, who is seeking to become governor on the platform of the APC, should face his own contest and present his programmes to the electorate instead of attacking him.

Makinde’s comments came days after the Alli campaign organisation accused the governor of repeatedly attacking the APC candidate instead of allowing the candidates to defend their records ahead of the election.

The campaign organisation had said Makinde would not be on the ballot in 2027 and should therefore focus on selling the credentials of his preferred successor, Bimbo Adekanmbi, rather than attacking Alli.

The latest exchange adds to the growing political confrontation between Makinde and Alli, with the APC campaign organisation recently responding to the governor’s comments on Alli’s legal practice and questioning aspects of the Makinde administration’s record.

Meanwhile, the Monday gathering marked a major political component of the Boye Nation and JAF Movement concert, which combined entertainment with mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

The organisers had earlier announced that the event would feature the formal reception of members and supporters of the Boye Nation movement into the APM, with Makinde expected to receive the group.

Speaking on the defection, one of the event coordinators, Demola Omiyale, said the group decided to leave the APC because, according to him, its principal was denied the party’s governorship ticket.

He said the defectors had chosen to support Adekanmbi, the APM governorship candidate, adding that the group was ready to work with the party ahead of the 2027 election.

The event also featured performances by several music artistes, as the organisers combined political mobilisation with entertainment and youth engagement.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has told the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, to face his 2027 governorship contest and stop making attacks against him the centre of his campaign.

Makinde stated this on Monday while receiving APC members who defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, during the Boye Nation and JAF Movement concert.

The defectors, drawn from different parts of Oyo State, were led by Ajiboye Akande Sangogade, popularly known as Boye Nation, a former aide to former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu. Reports on the event said the group formally joined the APM and pledged support for the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

Addressing the gathering, Makinde said those seeking to succeed him should concentrate on telling the people what they intend to do differently rather than making his administration the focus of their campaigns.

He said Alli, who is seeking to become governor on the platform of the APC, should face his own contest and present his programmes to the electorate instead of attacking him.

Makinde’s comments came days after the Alli campaign organisation accused the governor of repeatedly attacking the APC candidate instead of allowing the candidates to defend their records ahead of the election.

The campaign organisation had said Makinde would not be on the ballot in 2027 and should therefore focus on selling the credentials of his preferred successor, Bimbo Adekanmbi, rather than attacking Alli.

The latest exchange adds to the growing political confrontation between Makinde and Alli, with the APC campaign organisation recently responding to the governor’s comments on Alli’s legal practice and questioning aspects of the Makinde administration’s record.

Meanwhile, the Monday gathering marked a major political component of the Boye Nation and JAF Movement concert, which combined entertainment with mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

The organisers had earlier announced that the event would feature the formal reception of members and supporters of the Boye Nation movement into the APM, with Makinde expected to receive the group.

Speaking on the defection, one of the event coordinators, Demola Omiyale, said the group decided to leave the APC because, according to him, its principal was denied the party’s governorship ticket.

He said the defectors had chosen to support Adekanmbi, the APM governorship candidate, adding that the group was ready to work with the party ahead of the 2027 election.

The event also featured performances by several music artistes, as the organisers combined political mobilisation with entertainment and youth engagement.