Oyo State Market Leaders Council Disassociates Itself From Viral Video of Oseni Donating to Traders in Oyo South Senatorial District

The Oyo State Market Leaders Council has distanced itself from claims circulating in a viral video suggesting that Hon. Aderemi Oseni donated ₦90 million to traders across the Oyo South Senatorial District and, in return, secured the endorsement of the entire market community for his 2027 senatorial ambition.

Reacting to the development, the Council clarified that the event in question was attended by APC market stakeholders and political supporters, stressing that the beneficiaries of the donation were not traders across Oyo South Senatorial District as widely portrayed in some reports and social media publications.

The Council noted that while the reported ₦90 million donation may have been made to individuals and groups present at the gathering, it should not be interpreted as financial support extended to the entire market community under the umbrella of the Oyo State Market Leaders Council.

According to the Council, the Oyo State Market Leaders Council remains the apex and officially recognized body of market leadership in the state, overseeing and coordinating market affairs across the 12 market clusters. As such, any intervention, support programme, or donation intended for traders across Oyo State would ordinarily involve the recognized market leadership structure for proper coordination and accountability.

“The impression being created that all traders across Oyo South Senatorial District benefited from the ₦90 million donation is inaccurate and misleading. The beneficiaries were participants at a political gathering organized by APC stakeholders, not the entire market community in Oyo South or Oyo State,” the Council stated.

Market leaders further emphasized that the reported donation and the endorsements that followed were political activities carried out by supporters and stakeholders within a particular political platform and should not be presented as the collective position of all traders and market leaders in the state.

The Council also refuted insinuations that it had endorsed any aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, reiterating that it remains neutral and focused on advancing the welfare of traders irrespective of political, religious, or ethnic affiliations.

It added that any official endorsement by the market leadership structure would only emerge through the Council’s recognized organs and would be formally communicated through its authorized channels.

The Oyo State Market Leaders Council therefore urged the media, political actors, and members of the public to exercise caution and avoid generalizing the actions of political groups as representing the views of the entire market community.

The Council reaffirmed its commitment to unity among traders, peaceful coexistence across markets, and the protection of the interests of market men and women throughout Oyo State, while maintaining its non-partisan stance ahead of the 2027 general elections.