Oyo APC accuses Makinde of using presidential bid to evade alleged probe

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of using his presidential ambition as an escape strategy to evade alleged investigations into his administration.

The allegation was contained in a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Sadare, and made available to journalists on Sunday.

Makinde, who is serving his second term as governor, is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement ahead of the 2027 general election. His tenure as governor is expected to end in May 2027.

Sadare alleged that Makinde’s decision to contest the presidential election was part of a plan to create an avenue to leave Nigeria before the expiration of his tenure. However, the party did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

According to the APC spokesman, the governor was seeking to avoid accountability over what the party described as alleged cases of graft and abuse of office involving his administration.

Sadare further alleged that Makinde planned to leave the country from January 2027, describing the presidential bid as an attempt to distract Nigerians and divert the attention of anti-graft agencies.

“Meanwhile, we can authoritatively inform the whole world that Makinde is only out to hoodwink Nigerians, distract the anti-graft agencies which are on his cases and also secure an escape route from the country anytime from January 1, 2027,” the statement said.

The APC spokesman added that the party was working on details of the alleged plan and claimed that relevant security agencies had been placed on alert. He maintained that Makinde would be required to respond to allegations concerning his years in office since he was sworn in as governor in May 2019.