The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Abimbola Adekanmbi, has dismissed claims that Governor Seyi Makinde is sponsoring or controlling his political ambition ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Adekanmbi, a former Oyo State Commissioner for Finance, said he would operate an independent administration if elected governor, insisting that his political relationship with Makinde should not be interpreted as evidence that he is acting as the governor’s political surrogate.

The APM candidate made the clarification during an interview with Arise News on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, amid political discussions surrounding the emerging alignments ahead of the next governorship election.

Adekanmbi said he had developed his own manifesto, strategy and policy agenda and would personally take responsibility for the decisions made by his administration.

He maintained that his candidacy should be judged on his own political plans and capacity to govern rather than assumptions about his relationship with the incumbent governor.

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Adekanmbi said Makinde had advised him not to take responsibility for political disputes or liabilities associated with the current administration if he eventually becomes governor.

According to him, the advice reinforced his position that he would be accountable for his own decisions and policies.

He said his political career had been built around taking responsibility for his actions and that the same principle would guide him if elected to lead Oyo State.

Adekanmbi therefore rejected the description of himself as a candidate being controlled by Makinde, stressing that he has his own vision for the state.

He also sought to distance the process through which APM candidates emerged from suggestions that the governor personally dictated the names of candidates for various elective positions.

According to Adekanmbi, the candidates contesting governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats emerged through consultations involving different interests across Oyo State.

He argued that the process was not simply a matter of Makinde sitting in his office and producing a list of preferred candidates.

Instead, Adekanmbi said discussions were held with different groups and stakeholders before candidates were selected.

He described the process as one involving consultations, public engagements and contributions from different sectors and regions of the state.

The former commissioner said the eventual emergence of candidates was based on consensus rather than a unilateral decision by the governor.

His comments come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with political parties and aspirants seeking to establish their positions and distinguish themselves from competing camps.

In Oyo State, questions surrounding political alliances and the influence of prominent political figures are expected to remain part of the campaign conversation as the election approaches.

Adekanmbi’s comments appear aimed at addressing concerns that his candidacy could represent an extension of the incumbent administration rather than an independent political platform.

By emphasizing his manifesto and policy agenda, the APM candidate said voters should assess him based on his own plans and the programme he intends to implement if given the opportunity to govern the state.

The former finance commissioner also made clear that any administration he leads would carry his own political identity and that he would be responsible for its successes and failures.

The debate over candidate independence is likely to remain significant as political parties position themselves for the 2027 contest.

For Adekanmbi, however, the message is that his candidacy should not be reduced to his relationship with Makinde or interpreted solely through the lens of existing political alliances.

He has insisted that he has his own political strategy and intends to campaign on a distinct policy agenda.

The APM candidate’s remarks also provide an indication of the effort by emerging political actors to clarify their identities as the state moves closer to another major electoral contest.

With candidates expected to present competing visions for Oyo State, issues including governance, economic management, development and political accountability are likely to feature prominently in the campaign.

For now, Adekanmbi maintains that he is not seeking election as a proxy for Makinde and that, if elected, the decisions of his administration would ultimately be his responsibility.