The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has condemned what it described as coordinated attacks allegedly carried out by suspected Allied Peoples Movement (APM) thugs against the wife of the Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Alhaja Tawakalitu Alli, and two APC candidates during separate engagements in Ibadan on Wednesday.

Alhaja Tawakalitu Alli was reportedly attacked during a medical outreach she organised at Ibikunle House, Ayeye, Ibadan. On the same day, the campaign trains of the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, and the party’s candidate for Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency, Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo, were also reportedly attacked during separate campaign activities at Agbaje Market, Orita-Merin, and Idi-Arere.

In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the campaign organisation described the incidents as “unwarranted, barbaric and deliberate,” warning that such acts could drag Oyo State back into the era of political violence.

The organisation called on Governor Seyi Makinde and the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, to rein in their supporters and ensure that political activities in the state are conducted peacefully.

According to the statement, “The SSACO is at the least miffed by the unwarranted and barbaric attacks by Allied Peoples Movement (APM) hoodlums on Alhaja Tawakalitu Alli during a medical outreach she organised at Ibikunle House, Ayeye, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

“Sponsored hoodlums also attacked the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, and the party’s candidate for Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency, Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo, during separate campaign events at Agbaje Market, Orita-Merin, and Idi-Arere, Ibadan, on the same Wednesday.”

The SSACO insisted that APC candidates and supporters would not be intimidated or prevented from exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of association, assembly and political participation.

It further accused Governor Makinde and Adekanmbi of allowing political violence to thrive, alleging that the attacks were connected to fears over the outcome of the 2027 elections. The organisation, however, urged the governor, as the state’s chief security officer, to ensure the protection of all residents irrespective of their political affiliations.

“Governor Makinde carries the responsibility to protect all residents irrespective of their political leanings. This is the oath he swore to in 2019 and 2023,” the statement said.

The campaign organisation also called on security agencies to investigate the incidents, identify those responsible and prosecute them where evidence establishes their culpability.

It warned that no political ambition was worth the loss of human lives, urging all political parties and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns rather than violence.

The SSACO declared that the alleged attacks would not stop APC candidates from taking their messages to voters across Oyo State, insisting that its candidates would continue their campaigns despite what it described as attempts at intimidation.

“The good people of Oyo State deserve issue-based campaigns, not violence,” the organisation said, urging Makinde, Adekanmbi and other political actors to focus on their programmes and policies rather than allowing political activities to degenerate into violence.

The organisation concluded by warning that APC candidates would not surrender their constitutional rights to campaign freely across the state, regardless of threats or intimidation.