Oyo APC Candidate Explains Viral Student Lap Incident

The campaign organization of Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, issued a statement regarding a viral video showing a student from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, sitting on his lap. The incident occurred during a visit by students from the Department of Banking and Finance to invite Alli to their program and interview him at his campaign office in Mokola, Ibadan.

The campaign team explained that the students arrived when there were not enough seats available, leading Alli to invite one student to sit on his lap to facilitate the interview. The campaign condemned interpretations of the interaction as inappropriate, labeling them as misleading and politically motivated.

They characterized Alli's gesture as "spontaneous and fatherly," urging the public to disregard what they termed "cheap political blackmail." The campaign team called for responsible reporting from media organizations and social media users, emphasizing that the focus of the upcoming 2027 governorship election should be on ideas and the welfare of residents.