Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s campaign organisation has accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of crippling administration across the state’s 33 local government areas. The Oyo State Government immediately dismissed the claims as baseless. It challenged the opposition to produce concrete evidence of abandoned local projects.
Oyo State politics is competitive. The PDP controls the state. The APC is the main opposition. Senator Alli represents Oyo South. He is a former secretary to the state government. He has been critical of Makinde. Local government autonomy is a national issue. In 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that federal allocations to local governments should be paid directly to them. Many governors resisted. The ruling aimed to strengthen local government. Implementation has been uneven.
The campaign accused Makinde of crippling the LGAs. It alleged that funds are diverted. It claimed that projects are abandoned. The government rejected the claims. It said the opposition has no evidence. It challenged Alli to name the abandoned projects.
The dispute is political. The 2027 election is approaching. Alli may seek the governorship. Makinde will seek re-election. Local government performance is a campaign issue. Voters care about roads, water and schools. If LGAs are dysfunctional, the governor is blamed. If they perform, the governor claims credit.
The facts are contested. Local government finances are opaque. Federal allocations are public. State allocations are less clear. The Supreme Court ruling changed the framework. How Oyo implements it is unclear. The state government says it supports autonomy. The opposition says it undermines it.
The 33 LGAs are the frontline of governance. They are closest to the people. When they fail, citizens suffer. When they work, democracy delivers. The dispute matters beyond politics.
Winners: Alli, who gains visibility. The APC, which gains a campaign issue. The government, if it proves the claims false. Losers: Makinde, if the claims stick. Oyo residents, if LGAs remain weak. The PDP, if the issue dominates. The truth, which is lost in politics.
Bottom Line: The opposition accused Makinde. The government denied. The evidence is contested. Oyo’s LGAs matter. Voters will judge in 2027.