The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of displaying what it described as “gross ignorance” of the legal profession after the governor reportedly claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, had never practised law.

Makinde reportedly made the comment on Friday while speaking at an official engagement following his return from his annual leave.

Reacting in a statement on Saturday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation, Bisi Oladele, said the organisation would ordinarily have ignored the governor’s comment but decided to respond in order to “correct the record” on Alli’s professional background.

“For the avoidance of doubt and contrary to Makinde’s ignorant assertion, Senator Sharafadeen Alli is not a portfolio lawyer. He is a thoroughbred legal practitioner,” Oladele said.

According to him, Alli began his legal career as a counsel at A.E. Enumah & Associates before joining R.A. Sarumi & Co., Solicitors, Advocates & Notary Public, in Ibadan.

Available biographical records also state that Alli practised at A.E. Enumah & Associates and subsequently worked as counsel at R.A. Sarumi & Co. between 1988 and 1991. His current biography identifies him as a lawyer and records his legal practice before his transition into public service.

The campaign organisation further said Alli later established Biodun Alli & Co., where he served as principal partner.“ From there, by dint of hard work and brilliance, he established his own law firm, Biodun Alli & Co., where he was Principal Partner, handling high-profile briefs, conveyancing and corporate practice for years before answering the higher call to public service,” Oladele said.

A professional profile also identifies Alli with Biodun Alli & Co. and describes him as a legal practitioner. The campaign organisation argued that even if a lawyer does not spend his entire professional career appearing in court, that does not invalidate his status as a legal practitioner.“ Law is not a shrine where you must stay forever. Once called to Bar, you are a lawyer for life,” the statement said, while listing advocacy, government, legislative work, corporate and legal advisory practice, academia, solicitors’ practice, consultancy and arbitration among the areas in which lawyers may work.

It added that a lawyer’s professional career could extend beyond courtroom advocacy into public administration, legislation, corporate governance and other areas. The organisation also cited the careers of several prominent lawyers who moved from legal practice into politics and public service, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Aminu Tambuwal, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Nyesom Wike.

It also referenced international figures, including former United States President Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Fidel Castro, arguing that their legal training was subsequently deployed in political and public leadership. “If studying Law and not practising in court is a crime, the organisation said Makinde should dissolve the National Assembly tomorrow, because an handful of the Senators and House members are lawyers,” the statement said.

The organisation further drew a comparison with Makinde’s own engineering background, arguing that studying a profession does not require an individual to remain in the conventional practice of that profession throughout his career.

“By his warped logic, since he studied Engineering, he should still be in the creeks carrying drilling machines, not occupying Agodi Government House,” it said.

According to the organisation, Alli’s legal training has been applied to public service through his previous positions as Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Chief of Staff to the Governor and Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, as well as his current position as Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District.

The campaign organisation urged Makinde to focus on issues of governance rather than personal attacks ahead of the 2027 governorship election. “Oyo people deserve issue-based engagement on the rot, debt and maladministration under his watch, not petty, jealousy-driven attacks on a man whose record dwarfs his,” Oladele said.

“Senator Alli used his Law degree correctly — to govern, to lead and to make laws. He remains the most qualified to cleanse the mess this administration will be leaving behind.

“Governor Makinde should talk less, learn more, and face governance,” Bisi Oladele, Director, Media and Publicity, Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, submitted.