Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has announced that he will publicly name his preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election before the end of the first week of May, bringing to a close weeks of speculation surrounding who will carry his political blessing into the next electoral cycle.
The governor made the disclosure in a newsletter, revealing that he had been engaged in extensive consultations with elders, religious leaders, and critical stakeholders across the state, and that several frontrunners had already emerged from that process. He was careful to note, however, that he had not yet communicated his final choice to anyone and described any reports to the contrary as false.
“We are approaching that point of decision. I have been consulting widely with our elders, fathers of faith, and other critical stakeholders, and I remain fully aware of the responsibility that this decision carries. At this time, while a number of individuals have emerged as frontrunners, I have not disclosed my position to anyone,” he said.
Sources within the Peoples Democratic Party indicated that a screening committee set up by the governor had been interviewing aspirants since late March. Among those said to be in contention are the state Commissioner for Education, Nureni Adeniran; Chief of Staff Segun Ogunwuyi; former Deputy Governor and current PDP Deputy National Chairman for the South, Taofeek Arapaja; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; and federal lawmaker Adedeji Stanley Olajide.
On the question of which political platform his anointed candidate would contest on, Makinde said he was awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on the leadership dispute within the PDP before making any decisions. “Once that decision is delivered, we will communicate our next steps clearly,” he said.
The governor’s announcement came amid a series of politically charged allegations swirling around Oyo State politics. Earlier this month, reports emerged that former Oyo State First Lady Florence Ajimobi had allegedly held a meeting with House of Assembly Speaker Adebowale Ogundoyin over a purported plot to remove the governor, allegations that both parties firmly denied.
Ogundoyin subsequently confirmed that he had been approached with a monetary inducement but said he rejected it outright, stressing that no amount of money could compromise his loyalty to the governor, the party, or the people he was elected to serve.
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose separately alleged that Makinde was plotting to remove the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, over his absence from a coronation ceremony. Both the governor and the Olubadan rejected the allegation through their respective aides, describing it as baseless and politically motivated.
