The Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has dismissed claims by the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) that he is attempting to play a spoiler’s game in the 2027 presidential race, describing the allegation as misplaced and misguided.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde said SSACO’s outburst fits into a familiar pattern of unfounded commentary aimed at distorting serious national conversations.
Reacting to SSACO’s allegation, Olanrewaju said the organisation’s claims reveal more about its fears than the governor’s political intentions.
“The allegation by the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) that Governor Seyi Makinde is attempting to play a spoiler’s game is as misplaced as it is misguided,” he said.
He added that the allegation was “an assertion without substance, crafted in haste and sustained only by a wonky imagination.”
Olanrewaju accused SSACO of engaging in unfounded commentary aimed at distorting national political discussions, arguing that its repeated attacks on Makinde have become a predictable pattern driven by insecurity.
He maintained that Makinde is pursuing the presidency with a clear agenda to reposition the country and provide responsible leadership for Nigerians.
“Governor Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), is in the race to reset Nigeria and help build a country that works for all citizens,” the statement said.
According to him, the governor’s record of constructive engagement, bridge-building, and issue-driven governance contradicts the suggestion that he is contesting merely to undermine another candidate.
“The suggestion that a candidate with such a track record would abandon serious national aspirations to ‘play spoiler’ is not only illogical, it is a deliberate mischaracterisation,” he added.
The governor’s aide also challenged SSACO’s claim that Makinde stands no chance against the incumbent president, questioning why the organisation continues to focus on his candidacy if it considers him politically insignificant.
“If a candidate supposedly has ‘no chance,’ why does SSACO attack him at every turn?” he asked.
He argued that the organisation’s repeated criticism of Makinde demonstrates its concern about the governor’s growing political influence.
Olanrewaju also accused SSACO of displaying similar apprehension towards Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, the APM governorship candidate in Oyo State, over his political activities and ambitions.
“SSACO’s constant jabs at him do not reflect confidence; they reflect apprehension. Its behaviour is not that of people who feel secure; it is the behaviour of people who feel threatened,” he said.
On Makinde’s national engagements, the media aide said the governor’s discussions with Nigerians across different regions are focused on issues of national importance, including stability, competence, and effective leadership.