The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has raised concerns over an alleged plot to attack its supporters within the Park Management System (PMS) and destroy campaign billboards belonging to its governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli.
The warning was issued in a statement by the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO), which described the alleged plans as part of an attempt to intimidate opposition members and weaken the party’s support base ahead of the next general elections.
The statement, signed by SSACO’s Director of Media and Publicity, Prince Bisi Oladele, said the organisation had received intelligence suggesting that some PMS members were planning attacks against National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) members who recently joined or openly support the APC.
According to the organisation, a popular NURTW member known as Oyere and his followers were among those allegedly being targeted.
SSACO claimed that the suspected attackers had monitored APC supporters during Senator Alli’s manifesto unveiling at Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall last Tuesday. It alleged that names of NURTW members, particularly those who had recently defected to the APC, were identified and discussed during the surveillance.
The organisation also linked the alleged tension to the large turnout at a weekly NURTW meeting chaired by Oyere at his office, which reportedly attracted hundreds of members.
SSACO further alleged that a meeting held around 10pm on Friday, reportedly at the direction of a senior member of Governor Seyi Makinde’s inner circle, discussed plans to launch coordinated attacks against NURTW members supporting the APC.
It claimed that one of the alleged objectives was to disrupt the group’s regular meetings and weaken the party’s growing support among transport workers.
Beyond the alleged threats against its members, the campaign organisation accused the state government of putting pressure on billboard owners who rent advertising spaces to Senator Alli, claiming that some proprietors were being forced out of business.
SSACO described the alleged destruction of the senator’s campaign billboards as an attack on democratic participation and accused the state government of creating an unfriendly business environment for political reasons.
The organisation argued that billboard owners should not suffer financial losses simply because they provide advertising space to an opposition candidate.
It therefore called on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to investigate the allegations and take steps to prevent any possible violence.
SSACO also appealed to residents to remain vigilant, warning that the state should not be exposed to political violence after the peaceful transition of power in 2019.
The organisation further called on the public to hold Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi responsible for any political violence, alleging that the actions of their supporters posed a threat to lives and property.
The allegations were contained in the campaign organisation’s statement. No response from the state government or the individuals accused was included in the material provided.
