IBADAN — The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi, has firmly dismissed assertions that he is acting as a surrogate for outgoing Governor Seyi Makinde or serving as a vehicle for the governor to retain power by proxy.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the former Commissioner for Finance clarified that his candidacy is anchored on an independent vision, a clear governance strategy, and broad-based stakeholder consensus across all geopolitical zones of Oyo State.
Adekanmbi revealed that Governor Makinde himself specifically cautioned him against inheriting political rivalries or liabilities, urging him instead to establish an independent political trajectory.
“I’m no surrogate to Governor Makinde,” Adekanmbi asserted. “The governor made it clear that I shouldn’t inherit his enemies or liabilities. I’m owning every action I take as governor, just as I have always owned my actions in life. I own it, and I’m prepared. I have my own manifesto and strategy.”
