The Oyo State governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, has urged voters to look beyond political sentiments and assess all governorship candidates based on competence, character, track record, capacity and innovation ahead of the 2027 election.
Adekanmbi made the call on Thursday, September 3, 2026, during an interactive session with journalists and media analysts in Oyo State.
He said the commencement of political campaigns would inevitably generate intense debate and criticism among supporters of different candidates, but urged the media and electorate to separate political noise from the issues that directly affect the development of the state.
According to him, Governor Seyi Makinde had “raised the bar very high” in terms of public expectations, stressing that discussions about the governor should focus more on his administration’s impact and achievements than on his personality.
Adekanmbi said he was prepared to subject his candidacy and past record to scrutiny, insisting that no question should be considered off limits during interactions with the media.
He, however, noted that while he would answer questions as openly as possible, some technical details might not be disclosed immediately where they concerned campaign strategies that would be unveiled at the appropriate time.
The APM candidate also expressed his appreciation to members of the media for attending the interactive session, describing the press as an important partner in helping political candidates reflect on their policies and improve their public positioning.
He said he welcomed media criticism and publications because they provided an opportunity for candidates to reassess their positions and make necessary improvements.
Adekanmbi further appealed to voters to apply the same standards to every candidate, regardless of their political affiliation, personality or popularity.
He warned that electing a candidate without properly examining the person’s competence, character and previous record could have serious consequences for the state.
“Let us pass them through the standard of competence, character, past record, capacity and innovation,” he said.
The APM candidate added that voters who compromised these standards because of their affection for a particular candidate would have to live with the consequences of their decision for at least four years, with the possibility of another four years.
Adekanmbi therefore urged the media to play its role in providing voters with the facts and information needed to make informed choices during the forthcoming political campaign.
He reiterated his readiness to continue engaging journalists and responding to questions as the campaign progresses.
