The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi, has come under criticism following his declaration that he would investigate loans obtained by Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration if elected in 2027.
Adekanmbi made the declaration during an interview with BBC Yoruba, where he also spoke about local government autonomy, governance and his political relationship with the incumbent governor.
However, a post by BBC on its Facebook page featuring the interview attracted unfavourable reactions, with several commenters questioning Adekanmbi’s motives and expressing reservations about his governorship ambition.
Some citizens reportedly questioned whether his proposed investigation was genuinely driven by public interest or an attempt to discredit the outgoing administration for political advantage. Others expressed concerns about his own intentions, with some suggesting that he was merely seeking an opportunity to take over the state’s resources.
The reactions suggest that Adekanmbi has a credibility challenge to address as he seeks to convince voters that he offers a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
During the interview, the former commissioner said his proposed administration would examine loans secured by the present government to determine how the funds were utilised and their impact on the state’s finances.
He, however, did not provide details of the specific loans he intended to investigate or explain the process his administration would adopt.
On local government administration, Adekanmbi pledged to respect constitutional provisions governing the third tier of government and work towards granting councils greater autonomy.
He acknowledged that implementing local government autonomy would require legislative and administrative steps, including actions by the state legislature.
The APM candidate also spoke about his relationship with Makinde, claiming that they had reached an understanding that the interest of Oyo State should take precedence over their individual political ambitions.
According to him, the agreement was that the development and welfare of the state should remain the priority rather than personal interests.
With the 2027 election approaching, Adekanmbi faces the task of convincing Oyo voters that his promises go beyond political statements and that his proposed leadership would deliver genuine accountability and better governance.
