APC's Alli faults Oyo assembly's approval of fresh ₦100bn loan for Makinde
- Oyo State House of Assembly approved a fresh ₦100 billion loan for Governor Seyi Makinde on Wednesday.
- APC governorship candidate Senator Sharafadeen Alli says the borrowing will bankrupt the state and may fund 2027 politics.
- The governor's camp has not responded in the reports; the loan's terms and lender were not disclosed.
The Oyo State House of Assembly on Wednesday approved a fresh ₦100 billion loan for Governor Seyi Makinde, and the state's APC governorship candidate for 2027, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has come out against it.
Alli, who represents Oyo South in the Senate, said through his campaign organisation that the borrowing is another attempt to bankrupt the state. The statement was signed by Bisi Oladele, director of media and publicity for the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, and made available to reporters on Wednesday.
According to Daily Post, this is not the first time the House has approved such a facility for the governor. The reports did not say what the loan will be used for, who is lending the money, or the repayment terms.
What Alli's camp is saying
The campaign organisation questioned the speed of the assembly's approval, arguing it suggests the state is being pushed into debt as the administration nears its end. It said the borrowing has no genuine development purpose and alleged it is meant to fund the 2027 elections and the governor's political plans.
Alli's camp also took aim at the House of Assembly, saying lawmakers should scrutinise borrowing requests rather than rubber-stamp them. "Approval by the legislature does not automatically confer economic wisdom, transparency or public interest on a borrowing decision," the statement said.
The organisation warned that the next administration would review what it called questionable financial commitments, and said borrowed money cannot decide who becomes governor in 2027.
Makinde's tenure ends in May 2027. The reports did not include any response from the governor's office or from the House of Assembly to the allegations.
Why it matters to Oyo residents
Loans taken by a state are repaid from public funds, which can affect what is available for roads, hospitals, schools and salaries long after the current government leaves. Residents will want to know the lender, the interest rate and the repayment plan before the money is spent.
The claims from Alli's campaign are allegations. No court has found anyone guilty of wrongdoing over the loan, and the governor has not been accused of any crime in the reports.
What happens next: The state government has not publicly responded in these reports. With the 2027 governorship election approaching, expect the loan to remain a campaign issue, and watch for details of the facility and any statement from Government House in Agodi.
