A former Majority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Special Adviser on Legislative Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, Hon. Samuel Adejumobi, popularly known as Agbarapo, has described the early political activities of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State as a clear display of fear, desperation, and disregard for electoral laws.
Agbarapo faulted the Oyo State chapter of the APC for embarking on what he described as premature and unauthorized campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, has not declared the commencement of campaigns for any political party.
In a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Ibadan, Agbarapo said the actions of the opposition party were unlawful and showed a lack of respect for the political awareness of the people of Oyo State.
Reports indicate that the APC has been touring several local government areas in the state under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda in support of the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
Reacting, Agbarapo said any political party that begins campaigning outside the timeframe provided by law only exposes its insecurity and lack of confidence in its record.
According to him, the APC’s actions amount to what he described as “untamed desperation,” adding that the people of Oyo State are now politically enlightened and can easily distinguish between governance and propaganda.
He recalled the eight years of APC administration in the state, which he said were marked by hardship and poor governance, and questioned what legacy the party believed it left behind at the Agodi Government House.
Agbarapo said the electorate had already passed its verdict by rejecting the APC in two consecutive governorship elections, stressing that nothing had changed to warrant a different outcome in 2027.
He dismissed claims by the APC that it would reclaim the state in the next election, insisting that such ambitions would fail even if backed by what he described as federal influence.
According to him, Governor Makinde’s achievements are visible, measurable, and unprecedented, adding that governance in Oyo State has been redefined and that the consequences of returning to APC rule would be too costly to imagine.
He cited the presentation of a white horse to Governor Makinde by Oyo State pensioners during the annual interfaith prayer ceremony as a symbolic and unprecedented show of appreciation for an administration that prioritised the welfare of workers and retirees.
Agbarapo described recent statements by the APC on reclaiming the state as laughable, arguing that the party’s leaders were united not by vision but by fear of political irrelevance after 2027.
He accused the opposition of being motivated by a desire to regain access to public funds rather than genuine concern for the welfare of the people, pointing to the prevailing security and economic challenges in the country as evidence.
Agbarapo maintained that the Makinde administration has set a new benchmark in transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources, noting that Oyo State funds are now being deployed strictly for the development of the state.
He concluded that the 2027 governorship election would be a choice between the people and a party the electorate has already rejected, adding that the confidence in the current administration is based on lived experience, not political slogans.
