Ajiboye Akande Sangogade, popularly known as BoyeNation, has dismissed allegations by the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that his political group is engaging in a double game by supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while also identifying with the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi.
BoyeNation described the party’s position as an attempt to confuse political allegiance with independent democratic choice, insisting that supporting candidates across different political parties is a legitimate expression of democratic freedom.
The former Personal Assistant to the erstwhile Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, was reacting to a statement by the Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, in which the party reportedly warned members of the BoyeNation movement against promoting candidates from different political parties simultaneously.
The APC had accused individuals associated with the group of creating confusion in the political space following the circulation of a video showing campaign-branded vehicles bearing the images of President Tinubu alongside those of Adekanmbi, with references to both the APC and APM.
However, BoyeNation maintained that the freedom to support political candidates based on individual convictions should not be interpreted as political inconsistency, betrayal or an offence against any political party.
He argued that democracy thrives on freedom of choice, political persuasion and the right of citizens to evaluate candidates independently, rather than being compelled to adopt an all-or-nothing approach to electoral participation.
According to him, suggesting that anyone who supports President Tinubu must automatically support every APC candidate, regardless of individual capacity, competence, public record or proposed programmes, represents a misunderstanding of democratic politics.
“Politics should not be confused with reality. Political parties are vehicles for democratic participation, not institutions that own the conscience, judgement or voting rights of Nigerians. Supporting President Bola Tinubu does not mean surrendering one’s right to assess other candidates independently.
“Democracy is not a compulsory package in which supporting one candidate automatically makes it an obligation to endorse everybody else bearing the same party identity. Every candidate must earn the confidence of the electorate through competence, credibility, character and a convincing vision for the people.
“It is therefore wrong to describe independent political judgement as double dealing simply because it does not conform to the expectations of a particular political party,” he maintained.
BoyeNation further questioned the rationale behind the APC’s apparent insistence that political support must be distributed strictly along party lines, arguing that the electorate should be more concerned about the quality of leadership being offered than the political colours candidates wear.
He noted that political loyalty should never become a substitute for critical thinking, adding that Nigerians reserve the right to support individuals whose ideas and leadership capacity they consider beneficial to the country and their respective communities.
He also cautioned against attempts to intimidate political groups or create the impression that expressing support for candidates across party lines amounts to an act of political misconduct.
“Nobody should be intimidated into surrendering his political convictions. The electorate are not political hostages, and no political party has the exclusive ownership of their conscience.
“If a Nigerian believes in President Tinubu at the national level and finds another candidate more convincing at the state level, that is a political choice.
“The question should be whether the candidates have the capacity to deliver, not whether their party affiliations fit into somebody’s preferred political arrangement.
“Political parties should be competing to win the confidence of the people through ideas, performance and credible leadership, not attempting to dictate how citizens must exercise their democratic rights,” he said.
On the allegation that the group was attempting to create confusion through its political activities, BoyeNation maintained that there was a fundamental difference between confusion and independent political positioning.
He argued that the APC should be more concerned about presenting compelling candidates and convincing policy alternatives than attempting to police the political preferences of individuals and groups outside its control.
According to him, the real test of political maturity lies in the ability to accommodate differing opinions, recognise legitimate democratic choices and engage opposing positions with superior arguments rather than issuing warnings.
He also maintained that the decision to support President Tinubu should be assessed independently of the political choices available in Oyo State, stressing that national and state elections present different leadership questions and should be approached based on the realities of their respective political environments.
He described Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi of the APM as a candidate capable of sustaining the development direction currently being pursued in Oyo State, insisting that continuity in governance should be judged by the ability to preserve achievements, improve existing policies and deliver additional benefits to residents.
He further argued that the question before Oyo voters should not be which political party has the loudest campaign machinery, but which candidate possesses the competence, experience and practical understanding required to move the state forward.
“An election is not a loyalty test organised by political parties. It is an opportunity for the people to decide who deserves their mandate.
“Rather than asking why an individual supports one candidate at the national level and another at the state level, the more important question is what each candidate has to offer and how their proposed leadership will improve the lives of the people.
“We must move away from the politics of entitlement and embrace the politics of performance. No candidate should expect automatic endorsement simply because of the political platform on which he is contesting,” he added.
He also challenged political actors to recognise that the electorate was increasingly interested in tangible achievements, realistic development proposals and the ability of candidates to translate campaign promises into measurable results.
BoyeNation consequently urged the APC to concentrate on strengthening its political appeal and presenting its candidates to the electorate rather than attempting to impose restrictions on the political preferences of individuals and organisations.
He insisted that political differences should be settled through democratic engagement, superior arguments and the ballot box, not through public intimidation, accusations or attempts to question the legitimacy of independent political choices.
“The beauty of democracy lies in the freedom to disagree without being branded an enemy. Political parties must learn that they cannot command public confidence through threats or declarations of entitlement.
“Let every candidate present his record, explain his vision and convince the people why he deserves their votes. At the end of the day, it is the electorate, not political party spokespersons, who will determine the direction of governance.
“Our position is simple: support should be earned, not demanded. We believe Nigerians and the people of Oyo State deserve the freedom to make political decisions based on their understanding of the issues and what they consider to be in their best interests,” he declared.
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