APC candidate unveils ₦10bn youth fund, promises LG autonomy, N150bn IGR, 20-year road warrantySenator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli’s aspiration to govern Oyo State in 2027 received fresh political attention on Tuesday as prominent political figures, former government officials and stakeholders from different sectors converged in Ibadan for the unveiling of his development manifesto.
The occasion, which brought together political heavyweights cutting across different political backgrounds, provided an opportunity for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate to formally present his policy direction and outline how he intends to address the economic and developmental challenges confronting the state if elected.
Tagged Oyo AHEAD (Itayo Oyo) and described by Alli as My Pact, the manifesto presentation was held at the Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, opposite the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
Beyond the policy document, the political significance of the gathering was reflected in the presence of several influential personalities, including former deputy governors, a serving federal minister and notable political figures whose participation added weight to the occasion.
Among the prominent attendees were former deputy governors Iyiola Oladokun, Taofeek Arapaja and Rauf Alaniyan, Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, and former First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs Kemi Alao-Akala.
Another notable presence was Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, who recently resigned as Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde. His attendance attracted particular attention because of the timing of his departure from the state government and the growing political realignments ahead of 2027.
Although Ogunwuyi has not publicly declared his next political destination, his appearance at the opposition party’s event wearing a face cap bearing Tinubu’s symbol has generated discussions about the changing political landscape in Oyo State. His attendance, however, should not be interpreted as confirmation of an APC defection.
Hundreds of APC supporters and stakeholders drawn from the state’s 33 local government areas also attended the programme, alongside representatives of professional bodies, community development associations, organised labour, traders, artisans, farmers, women and youth groups.
Seven pillars of Alli’s development agenda
At the centre of the event was the presentation of Oyo AHEAD, a seven-pillar development framework covering local government autonomy, advancement of infrastructure, health reform, education and employment, agriculture and export, digital economy and security.
Alli said the blueprint was designed to reposition Oyo economically, strengthen public institutions and ensure that government policies translate into tangible improvements in the lives of residents.
One of his major promises is to grant the state’s 33 local government councils full autonomy from his first day in office if elected governor.
He maintained that local councils must be allowed to manage their finances and administrative responsibilities without unnecessary interference, arguing that genuine grassroots governance would accelerate development in communities across the state.
The former Secretary to the State Government also promised to make Oyo one of Nigeria’s three leading state economies, with an annual internally generated revenue target of ₦150 billion.
He explained that the revenue target would be pursued without imposing additional financial burdens on residents and businesses, particularly traders and small-scale entrepreneurs.
N10bn youth fund, industrial parks, employment
Youth empowerment and employment creation featured prominently in the manifesto, with Alli proposing an initial ₦10 billion Oyo Youth Fund to support young entrepreneurs and business owners.
He also promised to establish digital hubs across the state’s five geopolitical zones, develop industrial parks, revive the Oluyole Free Trade Zone and introduce a guarantee fund to improve small businesses’ access to credit.
The APC candidate further proposed skills acquisition centres across the state and an apprenticeship law to provide young people with practical vocational training and employment opportunities.
For the agricultural sector, he promised to revive farm settlements, provide insurance coverage for 10,000 farmers and work with the Oyo Export Council to establish a produce board that would help farmers access markets and improve the value of agricultural products.
20-year road warranty, electricity, water
On infrastructure, Alli promised to complete ongoing road projects and construct additional access roads connecting farming communities to markets.
He also introduced a proposed 20-year warranty for newly constructed roads, an undertaking intended to promote quality construction and accountability in public infrastructure delivery.
His electricity proposal includes fully constituting the Oyo State electricity regulator, developing local power generation capacity and providing dedicated electricity to industrial and agricultural corridors.
He also promised to audit faulty transformers and replace them every six months.
In another significant commitment, Alli pledged to restore potable water supply to 100 communities and connect at least 100 rural communities to electricity for the first time.
His transportation agenda includes increasing the number of state buses and modernising Pacesetter Transport Company, while his housing proposal focuses on partnerships with the Federal Government and private investors to provide affordable homes for working families.
Health, education and workers’ welfare
The manifesto also addresses healthcare and education, two critical sectors with direct implications for the state’s human development.
Alli promised to construct general hospitals in the six local government areas he identified as lacking such facilities, recruit additional medical personnel and ensure that vacancies in hospitals and primary healthcare centres are consistently filled.
He also proposed free health insurance for infants, pregnant women and residents aged 70 and above.
His target is to increase health insurance enrolment from the reported 271,000 beneficiaries to 500,000 within his first two years in office.
In education, he promised to reduce classroom populations to 30 pupils, recruit additional teachers, improve school infrastructure and establish skills centres across the state’s zones.
The proposed apprenticeship law is also expected to provide a framework for vocational training and practical employment opportunities.
For civil servants, Alli promised regular payment of salaries and entitlements, improved working conditions and the provision of necessary tools to enhance productivity.
He equally pledged to restructure the state’s security architecture to strengthen the protection of lives and property.
APC leaders declare support, promise issue-based campaign
Speaking at the programme, the APC state leadership described the manifesto unveiling as an opportunity to communicate the party’s policy direction to the electorate.
The party also acknowledged members who contested the governorship ticket but remained within its fold after Alli emerged as the candidate.
The Director-General of the Sarafadeen Alli Campaign Council, Barrister Yemi Aderibigbe, disclosed that the manifesto was developed through consultations with professionals, academics, public and private sector stakeholders and representatives of different interest groups.
He explained that the campaign team considered available national statistics and relevant state development documents in preparing the policy proposals.
Aderibigbe described the document as a public commitment that residents should scrutinise and use to hold the candidate accountable if elected.
The APC leadership also indicated that its campaign would focus on policy issues rather than personal attacks, while urging members to maintain peace throughout the political process.
Why the unveiling matters to Alli’s 2027 ambition
For Alli, Tuesday’s gathering represents more than the formal presentation of a manifesto. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate the level of organisation, political mobilisation and stakeholder engagement surrounding his ambition to succeed Governor Seyi Makinde in 2027.
The presence of former deputy governors Oladokun, Arapaja and Alaniyan, alongside Minister Tegbe and other influential figures, offers a visible picture of the political support and relationships being assembled around his candidacy.
Ogunwuyi’s attendance is particularly noteworthy because of his recent departure from Makinde’s government. While it would be premature to attach a political conclusion to his appearance, the development provides another talking point in the unfolding permutations ahead of the next governorship election.
The participation of stakeholders from the 33 local government areas also gives the campaign an opportunity to take its message beyond the traditional political establishment and engage communities whose support will be important in the election.
However, the number and prominence of dignitaries at a manifesto presentation cannot, on their own, establish the strength of a candidate’s electoral support. The real test will be whether the political gathering translates into sustained grassroots mobilisation, party unity and acceptance of the candidate’s proposals across the state’s different zones.
From Ibadan North council chairman to governorship contender
Alli’s political journey provides an important background to his current ambition.
Born in Ibadan on April 20, 1963, the lawyer and politician began his political career at the grassroots, becoming the first elected Executive Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government.
He subsequently served as Secretary to the Oyo State Government and Chief of Staff during the administration of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.
In 2023, he was elected Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District on the APC platform and currently serves in the 10th National Assembly.
His legislative responsibilities have included chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions.
Alli declared his governorship ambition in April 2026 and eventually emerged as the APC candidate for the 2027 election. Hon. Michael Adesoji Adedeji was also unveiled as his running mate.
The party has since embarked on reconciliation and mobilisation efforts to consolidate its structure ahead of the contest.
The policy challenge ahead
While the unveiling has provided Alli with an opportunity to put forward an extensive development agenda, the manifesto will inevitably attract scrutiny over its financial feasibility, implementation timetable and institutional requirements.
The proposed ₦10 billion youth fund, ₦150 billion annual revenue target, 20-year road warranty, electricity expansion and commitments to healthcare and education will require careful budgeting, effective revenue administration and strong institutional coordination.
His promise of full local government autonomy will equally require a clear implementation framework that addresses constitutional provisions, financial accountability and the relationship between the state and local councils.
For the electorate, the central issue will be how the ambitious proposals translate into measurable improvements in employment, infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and household incomes.
As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of 2027, Alli’s manifesto has formally placed his development propositions before the people of Oyo State.
Whether Oyo AHEAD will become the defining policy document of the coming governorship contest will depend not only on the political enthusiasm generated by its unveiling but also on the credibility, practicality and public acceptance of its promises.
Seven pillars of Alli’s development agenda
At the centre of the event was the presentation of Oyo AHEAD, a seven-pillar development framework covering local government autonomy, advancement of infrastructure, health reform, education and employment, agriculture and export, digital economy and security.
Alli said the blueprint was designed to reposition Oyo economically, strengthen public institutions and ensure that government policies translate into tangible improvements in the lives of residents.
One of his major promises is to grant the state’s 33 local government councils full autonomy from his first day in office if elected governor.
He maintained that local councils must be allowed to manage their finances and administrative responsibilities without unnecessary interference, arguing that genuine grassroots governance would accelerate development in communities across the state.
The former Secretary to the State Government also promised to make Oyo one of Nigeria’s three leading state economies, with an annual internally generated revenue target of ₦150 billion.
He explained that the revenue target would be pursued without imposing additional financial burdens on residents and businesses, particularly traders and small-scale entrepreneurs.
N10bn youth fund, industrial parks, employment
Youth empowerment and employment creation featured prominently in the manifesto, with Alli proposing an initial ₦10 billion Oyo Youth Fund to support young entrepreneurs and business owners.
He also promised to establish digital hubs across the state’s five geopolitical zones, develop industrial parks, revive the Oluyole Free Trade Zone and introduce a guarantee fund to improve small businesses’ access to credit.
The APC candidate further proposed skills acquisition centres across the state and an apprenticeship law to provide young people with practical vocational training and employment opportunities.
For the agricultural sector, he promised to revive farm settlements, provide insurance coverage for 10,000 farmers and work with the Oyo Export Council to establish a produce board that would help farmers access markets and improve the value of agricultural products.
20-year road warranty, electricity, water
On infrastructure, Alli promised to complete ongoing road projects and construct additional access roads connecting farming communities to markets.
He also introduced a proposed 20-year warranty for newly constructed roads, an undertaking intended to promote quality construction and accountability in public infrastructure delivery.
His electricity proposal includes fully constituting the Oyo State electricity regulator, developing local power generation capacity and providing dedicated electricity to industrial and agricultural corridors.
He also promised to audit faulty transformers and replace them every six months.
In another significant commitment, Alli pledged to restore potable water supply to 100 communities and connect at least 100 rural communities to electricity for the first time.
His transportation agenda includes increasing the number of state buses and modernising Pacesetter Transport Company, while his housing proposal focuses on partnerships with the Federal Government and private investors to provide affordable homes for working families.
Health, education and workers’ welfare
The manifesto also addresses healthcare and education, two critical sectors with direct implications for the state’s human development.
Alli promised to construct general hospitals in the six local government areas he identified as lacking such facilities, recruit additional medical personnel and ensure that vacancies in hospitals and primary healthcare centres are consistently filled.
He also proposed free health insurance for infants, pregnant women and residents aged 70 and above.
His target is to increase health insurance enrolment from the reported 271,000 beneficiaries to 500,000 within his first two years in office.
In education, he promised to reduce classroom populations to 30 pupils, recruit additional teachers, improve school infrastructure and establish skills centres across the state’s zones.
The proposed apprenticeship law is also expected to provide a framework for vocational training and practical employment opportunities.
For civil servants, Alli promised regular payment of salaries and entitlements, improved working conditions and the provision of necessary tools to enhance productivity.
He equally pledged to restructure the state’s security architecture to strengthen the protection of lives and property.
APC leaders declare support, promise issue-based campaign
Speaking at the programme, the APC state leadership described the manifesto unveiling as an opportunity to communicate the party’s policy direction to the electorate.
The party also acknowledged members who contested the governorship ticket but remained within its fold after Alli emerged as the candidate.
The Director-General of the Sarafadeen Alli Campaign Council, Barrister Yemi Aderibigbe, disclosed that the manifesto was developed through consultations with professionals, academics, public and private sector stakeholders and representatives of different interest groups.
He explained that the campaign team considered available national statistics and relevant state development documents in preparing the policy proposals.
Aderibigbe described the document as a public commitment that residents should scrutinise and use to hold the candidate accountable if elected.
The APC leadership also indicated that its campaign would focus on policy issues rather than personal attacks, while urging members to maintain peace throughout the political process.
Why the unveiling matters to Alli’s 2027 ambition
For Alli, Tuesday’s gathering represents more than the formal presentation of a manifesto. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate the level of organisation, political mobilisation and stakeholder engagement surrounding his ambition to succeed Governor Seyi Makinde in 2027.
The presence of former deputy governors Oladokun, Arapaja and Alaniyan, alongside Minister Tegbe and other influential figures, offers a visible picture of the political support and relationships being assembled around his candidacy.
Ogunwuyi’s attendance is particularly noteworthy because of his recent departure from Makinde’s government. While it would be premature to attach a political conclusion to his appearance, the development provides another talking point in the unfolding permutations ahead of the next governorship election.
The participation of stakeholders from the 33 local government areas also gives the campaign an opportunity to take its message beyond the traditional political establishment and engage communities whose support will be important in the election.
However, the number and prominence of dignitaries at a manifesto presentation cannot, on their own, establish the strength of a candidate’s electoral support. The real test will be whether the political gathering translates into sustained grassroots mobilisation, party unity and acceptance of the candidate’s proposals across the state’s different zones.
From Ibadan North council chairman to governorship contender
Alli’s political journey provides an important background to his current ambition.
Born in Ibadan on April 20, 1963, the lawyer and politician began his political career at the grassroots, becoming the first elected Executive Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government.
He subsequently served as Secretary to the Oyo State Government and Chief of Staff during the administration of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.
In 2023, he was elected Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District on the APC platform and currently serves in the 10th National Assembly.
His legislative responsibilities have included chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions.
Alli declared his governorship ambition in April 2026 and eventually emerged as the APC candidate for the 2027 election. Hon. Michael Adesoji Adedeji was also unveiled as his running mate.
The party has since embarked on reconciliation and mobilisation efforts to consolidate its structure ahead of the contest.
The policy challenge ahead
While the unveiling has provided Alli with an opportunity to put forward an extensive development agenda, the manifesto will inevitably attract scrutiny over its financial feasibility, implementation timetable and institutional requirements.
The proposed ₦10 billion youth fund, ₦150 billion annual revenue target, 20-year road warranty, electricity expansion and commitments to healthcare and education will require careful budgeting, effective revenue administration and strong institutional coordination.
His promise of full local government autonomy will equally require a clear implementation framework that addresses constitutional provisions, financial accountability and the relationship between the state and local councils.
For the electorate, the central issue will be how the ambitious proposals translate into measurable improvements in employment, infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and household incomes.
As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of 2027, Alli’s manifesto has formally placed his development propositions before the people of Oyo State.
Whether Oyo AHEAD will become the defining policy document of the coming governorship contest will depend not only on the political enthusiasm generated by its unveiling but also on the credibility, practicality and public acceptance of its promises.
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