The Allied People’s Movement (APM) in Oyo State has criticised Senator Sharafadeen Alli over his recent roadside fried-fish outing, describing it as a political performance allegedly designed to portray him as a grassroots politician ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The party’s governorship campaign council argued that the gesture was an attempt to manufacture humility, insisting that genuine engagement with the people should be demonstrated through consistent service rather than occasional public appearances.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, the Co-Director (Media and Publicity) of the Oyo State APM Governorship Campaign Council, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the people of the state could distinguish between authentic grassroots engagement and political theatrics.
Olanrewaju alleged that Alli’s outing did not reflect his usual lifestyle, describing it as a staged attempt to appeal to voters. He maintained that leadership required sincerity, accessibility and a sustained connection with the people.
The APM spokesman also accused the senator of surrounding himself with wealthy associates allegedly moving around the state to attract political support through cash inducements.
He described the alleged practice as an attempt to secure support through financial inducement, arguing that Oyo voters deserved issue-based campaigns rather than what he termed “the politics of stomach infrastructure.”
Olanrewaju said the party’s governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, represented a different approach to political engagement, claiming that his interactions with communities were based on listening to residents, addressing their concerns and building trust.
According to him, Adekanmbi does not need staged public appearances to demonstrate his closeness to the people, insisting that humility and community engagement are integral to his character.
The APM campaign council challenged Alli to explain his policy proposals and vision for Oyo State, asking him to present concrete solutions to the challenges confronting residents instead of focusing on campaign spectacles.
Olanrewaju said the state needed leadership driven by clear plans, sincerity and purposeful engagement, rather than political displays and alleged inducements.
He added that the APM believed Adekanmbi had earned the preference of the people, although the statement did not provide evidence to substantiate the claim.
