Trending: Why Oyo APC governorship candidate asked student to sit on his lap — Campaign team

The campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has explained the circumstances surrounding a viral video showing a student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, sitting on his lap.

The campaign team said the student, alongside other students from the institution’s Department of Banking and Finance, visited Alli at his campaign office in Mokola, Ibadan, to invite him to their programme and conduct an interview.

According to the organisation, the students arrived when there were not enough seats for everyone, prompting Alli to ask one of the students to sit on his lap so the interview could continue.

The explanation followed the circulation of the video online, which generated reactions over the interaction between Alli and the student. In the footage, Alli was also seen briefly touching the student’s lap, leading some social media users to interpret the incident differently.

Campaign team rejects sexualisation claims

The campaign organisation condemned attempts by some online platforms and users to sexualise the interaction, describing such interpretations as misleading and politically motivated.

It said the number of people present exceeded the available seating capacity, leaving insufficient chairs for everyone.

The campaign team described Alli’s decision as a spontaneous and fatherly gesture and maintained that there was no inappropriate intention behind the action.

“It is deeply unfortunate that political desperation has descended to this level, where an ordinary interaction between a fatherly political leader and students who came to seek support for their programme is deliberately twisted into something sordid,” the campaign team said.

Team urges public to disregard viral narratives

The organisation urged members of the public to disregard what it described as misleading narratives surrounding the video.

It said those familiar with Alli’s relationship with young people understood his disposition towards them and his fatherly approach.

“There is no basis whatsoever for the offensive insinuations being attached to this video,” the campaign team stated.

It also appealed to media organisations and social media users to exercise responsibility when reporting the incident, warning against using digital platforms to damage reputations through sensationalism and innuendo.

Campaign calls for issue-based politics

The campaign team described the reactions as “cheap political blackmail” and argued that the 2027 Oyo State governorship election should be centred on ideas, competence, development and the welfare of residents.

It maintained that the viral footage should not be used to distract from substantive political issues or distort the purpose of the students’ visit to the APC candidate.

The organisation reiterated that, in its account, the interaction was innocent and resulted from limited seating during the students’ visit.

The incident comes as political parties in Oyo State prepare for the 2027 governorship election, with Alli already formally recognised as the APC’s candidate for the contest.