Oyo APC campaign group attacks Makinde over use of higher federal allocations

The campaign organisation of All Progressives Congress governorship candidate Sharafadeen Alli has criticised Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde over his remarks about increased federal allocations and persistent hunger. Makinde said at a political town hall meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, that state governments were receiving more money from the Federation Account but that the increase had not translated into improved living conditions. He said Oyo’s dependence on federal allocation had fallen after he assumed office in 2019 but had later risen again to almost 80 per cent.

The governor attributed the reversal to the Federal Government’s economic policies, which he described as “voodoo economics”. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Bisi Oladele, director of media and publicity for the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, said Makinde’s remarks should prompt questions about how Oyo had used its increased receipts. The organisation said the additional allocations resulted from the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and argued that state governments were responsible for deploying the money effectively.

It questioned why hunger remained a concern in Oyo despite higher receipts. The group also accused Makinde of opposing local government autonomy and alleged that his administration had prevented the state’s 33 local councils from functioning independently. Those allegations were contained in the campaign organisation’s statement.

Oyo’s 2025 budget projected N293 billion in direct Federation Account allocation. The state later reported N265 billion in statutory and other related revenue by the end of the third quarter of 2025. In January 2026, Oyo received N21.17 billion in net Federation Account allocation, compared with N13.68 billion in January 2025, according to the material provided.