Oyo 2027: I’ll Defeat APC, APM Without Buying Crowd – ADP Guber-Candidate

…As Olatunji banks on grassroots support, alleges APC pays ₦5,000 to mobilise rally crowds

The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo State, Hon. Kunle Olatunji, has expressed confidence in his chances of winning the 2027 governorship election, declaring that his campaign strategy is anchored on grassroots support rather than crowd mobilisation and financial inducements.

Olatunji stated this during a media parley organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, where he maintained that his ambition was driven by a genuine desire to serve the people rather than acquire wealth through public office.

The ADP candidate, who said he was financially comfortable to cater for himself and his family, explained that he was not desperate for political power but determined to provide purposeful leadership and improve the living conditions of residents of the state.

He dismissed the significance of large campaign crowds, alleging that some political parties were mobilising supporters with financial inducements, including an allegation that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was offering ₦5,000 to attract people to its campaign rallies.

According to him, his campaign is focused on reaching voters through radio, online platforms and direct engagement, expressing optimism that at least 50 per cent of registered voters in the state would participate in the forthcoming election and support his candidacy.

Olatunji, who acknowledged that his party might not have the financial resources of the major political parties, however, expressed confidence in its electoral structure, recalling that the party had previously produced political office holders, including former members of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Late Hon. Temitope Olatoye Sugar.

On infrastructure, he criticised the poor condition of roads across several parts of the state, particularly in Kishi, Ajaawa, Ibarapa and Igboora, promising that his administration, if elected, would ensure that funds accruing to the state through internally generated revenue (IGR) and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) were judiciously utilised for their intended purposes.

He also identified the perceived ineffectiveness of local government administration as a major challenge affecting the provision of basic amenities, particularly roads and primary healthcare services, insisting that local governments must be allowed to function effectively.

On healthcare, the ADP candidate promised to introduce a funding arrangement similar to the state’s education trust fund model to strengthen the health sector, adding that his administration would prioritise the establishment and effective operation of primary healthcare facilities across the state.

He further questioned the actual number of functional healthcare centres in Oyo State, saying his findings suggested that the state had yet to achieve the 351 healthcare centres promised by the present administration.

On security, Olatunji described Oyo State as vulnerable to security threats due to what he called its porous boundaries, stressing that security would be a major priority of his administration.

He disclosed plans to establish a comprehensive security framework that would combine state policing, community policing and an improved Amotekun security outfit, with emphasis on personnel training, intelligence gathering and technological support.

The governorship hopeful also proposed the introduction of a data-driven system to monitor the movement of people into and out of the state through its transportation network, alongside the establishment of a central security monitoring system to coordinate intelligence and security operations.

He added that his administration would leverage satellite technology, including Nigeria’s satellite infrastructure, to strengthen surveillance and provide a broader security picture across the state.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, Comrade Akeem Abas, urged Olatunji and other governorship candidates to conduct their campaigns peacefully and regard the state as one united family despite their political differences.

Abas cautioned political parties against violence, blackmail, intimidation, harassment and the spread of propaganda, stressing that political competition should be based on healthy rivalry and issue-driven engagements.

He said the leadership of the ADP had assured the union of its commitment to peaceful campaigns, urging other political parties to emulate the gesture.

The NUJ chairman reaffirmed the union’s commitment to providing equal opportunities and a level playing field for all governorship candidates and political parties to present their programmes and engage with the electorate ahead of the 2027 election.