5 days Ago By Bayo Agboola
BAYO AGBOOLA from Ibadan examines the governorship succession brouhaha between contending political stakeholders in Oyo state Succession permutations It is now glaring that the battle for the Oyo state governorship seat in 2027, would without any doubt, be between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Going by the unfolding political scenarios in and across the state, it is certain that the two political parties are ready for the 2027 showdown. Governor Seyi Makinde in his March 2025 bi-monthly newsletter insisted that by 2026, he would reveal his anointed gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 elections in Oyo state.
Makinde also admitted that the residents of the state were to decide the destiny of the state by choosing his successor, adding that he would reveal to them the individual he would support to succeed him as governor in order for the state to continue on the trajectory of sustainable development and transformation. According to Governor Makinde, though his administration had redefined governance and showed the people of Oyo state what was possible with strategic thinking and targeted implementations, “the truth is, it is in the hands of the people of Oyo state to chart a new path and decide their destiny”. He further said, “You gave me the opportunity to serve you, and so you will also decide who will serve you next.
“As I stated during the 11th Omituntun Ramadan lecture a few days ago, sometime in 2026, I will reveal who I will be supporting for the 2027 gubernatorial elections. It will then be left to you, the good people of Oyo state, to say if you want that continuity. Some people have began to ask what next and whether the next governor would not remove some of the efforts”.
APC’s position For the main opposition political party in the state, APC, on its part, emphasised its readiness to return to power in Oyo state as it described Governor Seyi Makinde’s determination to name his successor in office, come 2027 as ” dead on arrival”. The party stressed that some political pundits have described the declaration by the governor as an affront to the people of the state and the main opposition party has now come out to fault it in clear terms. APC in its reaction to Makinde’s statement by its Oyo state publicity secretary, Comrade Olawale Sadare, emphasised that any attempt by the governor to attempt producing the next governor of Oyo state after completing his two terms of eight years in May 2029 would fail.
The party opined that the unfolding political atmosphere in the state was totally against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, adding that the notion of Makinde producing a successor could not stand in the Pace Setter’s state. The state APC spokesman said, “It is certain that Governor Makinde would make attempts to foist a stooge on the good people of Oyo state for selfish reasons but the whole world knows that the prospect of a good governor for the state does not lie with Governor Makinde who has been running a one-man show since May 2019. “So, he (Makinde) can only try but he would be disappointed as whoever he presents would be roundly defeated at the poll”.
APC said, “apart from the fact that Governor Makinde would be one of the reasons the PDP might not be eligible to present a single candidate for the 2027 general election, he has more harms to the umbrella party in Oyo state to the extent that all their structures have been uprooted as the original members are now stripped and disconnected. “The supposed state secretariat at Molete is a ghost place while most of the local government chapters do not have office or meeting venue. Sad enough, party decisions are taken and imposed on all members by the governor and his closest aide”.
The APC stressed that another major factor that could shatter Governor Makinde’s plan to ensure the likelihood of continuation of PDP government in Oyo state was what it described as prolonged polarisation in the party in the state at this particular period. Reasons favourable to Makinde The Chairman of the Oyo State Advisory Council, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) on his part, said selecting the right successor for Governor Seyi Makinde would be a daunting task, giving the governor’s impressive track record over the past six years, saying identifying a worthy successor would be a challenging task. Chief Ayorinde (SAN) in a statement described Governor Makinde as an excellent leader whose achievements have significantly transformed the state, saying.
“It will be a herculean task to find a candidate capable of sustaining and surpassing the great strides Governor Makinde has recorded”. Stressing that Makinde’s leadership had brought remarkable progress, he said Oyo citizens must ensure that the next leader had the vision and capacity to build on this foundation. He said “though Oyo state is blessed with men and women of high intellectual capacity, capable of steering the affairs of the state but it is important to choose a candidate who aligns with the developmental trajectory already set by the current administration.
“Governor Makinde’s tenure has seen significant progress in infrastructural development, education, healthcare, security, and economic growth. His administration prioritised road construction, renovation of public schools, improved healthcare services, and empowerment programmes that have uplifted thousands of residents. “Under his leadership, the state has also witnessed an increase in internally generated revenue, strengthened governance structures, and enhanced security measures to ensure peace and stability”.
Chief Ayorinde (SAN) stressed that these achievements made it imperative to find a successor who would continue the good work, adding “with divine guidance, Governor Makinde would be granted the wisdom and knowledge to identify the right candidate to succeed him. Power rotation factor Though some political analyst in Oyo state are of the mind that it might not all be easy for Governor Makinde to singlehandedly pick a governorship candidate for the PDP in the state going by the various interests in the Oyo state chapter of the party, another factor that would play a role is power rotation in the state from Ibadan to the other parts of the state. With the pace of the political situation in Oyo state, there is no doubt that the race to the 2027 governorship in the state would be a interesting thing as the political gladiators in the state particularly in the ruling PDP and the main opposition political party in the state, the APC as to which of the party would carry the day.
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