2027: The journey to Agodi Government House begins, with aspirants jostling to succeed Makinde

On the March again! The 2027 general election is around the corner. In less than nine months from now, the electorate will be going to the polls to elect those who will govern them for the next four years in various capacities.

Barring any changes in the election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general election, the Presidential and National Assembly Elections will hold on Saturday, 16th January 2027.

Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections will now hold on Saturday, 6th February 2027.

To this end, the battle has begun in the pace-setter state as political parties are mapping out plans to win. Already, aspirants are in desperate moves to secure tickets from their individual parties. There have been permutations, alignment and realignment of forces involving defections from one party to the other by some politicians in the state, all in a bid to realise their ambitions in the forthcoming general election.

The political landscape is getting hotter with underground campaigns by aspirants, through the display of billboards, banners and hand bills in strategic places within the major cities and towns.

In Ibadan, the state capital, Ibarapa, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Iseyin and Saki, the banners and posters of various aspirants currently adorn several places.

But the fierce struggle will be for governorship race for the Agodi Government House and those who want to take over from Governor Seyi Makinde.

The journey has started within Makinde’s People’s Democratic Party PDP and other political parties especially the strong opposition All Progressives Party (APC) in the state.

Several governorship aspirants have signified their intentions in various parties within the state to succeed Makinde and occupy the Agodi Government house come 2027.

PDP

In the umbrella party, some of the aspirants gunning for governorship ticket included Adedeji Olajide (Odidiomo), a member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan South-West/North-East.

Nureni Adeniran, State Chairman of Universal Basic Education.

Bimbo Adekanmbi.

former Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Planning during the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.

Debo Akande, the state chairman of the Agribusiness Development Agency.

Adebo Ogundoyin, Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a chieftain of the platform of the PDP.

Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, a former two-term lawmaker and chairman of the Oyo State at 50 Committee also joined the race. Akinade-Fijabi, from the prominent Fijabi family of Ibadan, has had a long-standing record in public service after being elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 to represent Ibadan North-West/South-West Federal Constituency, serving for eight years.

Also, Beulah Adeoye, lawyer and a prominent member of PDP member.

APC.

Sharafadeen Alli, currently a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Oyo South Senatorial District is reported to have been endorsed as the APC consensus candidate during a meeting at the Lagos residence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Olawale Sadare, APC Publicity Secretary in Oyo State stated that the party has not picked any candidate.

“I’m not aware of any meeting which someone was said to have been picked as the party’s consensus candidate for 2027 governorship election in Oyo State. When it’s time, candidate of the party will definitely emerge among the aspirants. We don’t react to media speculations and mere rumor.”

But the likes of Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, Teslim Folarin, former Senate leader and 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Oyo State, Remi Oseni, member of the Nigerian House of Representatives who represents the Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in Oyo State, reportedly promised a Senatorial ticket may have dropped their ambitions.

Ayo Lam-Adesina, the son of former Oyo State governor, Lam Adesina, joined the 2027 governorship race in Oyo State, although he admitted that he lacks the financial resources to pursue his ambition.

Lam Adesina, who said he is contesting on the platform of the APC, pledged to restore what he described as the progressive ideals historically associated with Oyo State and the wider South-West.

Others interested are Adewale Kolapo Kareem, popularly known as ‘AKK’ said he joined All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, ahead of the 2027 elections.

The academic-turned-politician has stepped forward with a governance vision he described as “evidence-based” and “solution-driven.”

Rauf Olaniyan, former deputy to Governor Seyi Makinde who decamped to APC, Azeez Adeduntan, a professor and former Commissioner for Health during Late Abiola Ajimobi’s regime, Gbenga Adegbola, retired army colonel from Oke Ogun axis among others

Hakeem Alao: The Asiwaju of Irokoland has been advocating for credible primaries to avoid past mistakes.

Saheed Oladele: The Baàmeko of Ibadanland, positioning himself as a youth-oriented choice.

Muyiwa Gbadegesin: Backed by certain youth leagues for his technocratic background.

Akeem Agbaje: A prominent legal figure and frequent contender within the party.

ADC

Key governorship aspirants for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 election included Niyi Aborisade, a barrister and Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke, a former PDP member who joined the party to pursue his gubernatorial ambition.

Niyi Aborisade: An ADC governorship aspirant in Oyo State who has actively criticized the ruling party and advocated for stronger democratic opposition. He has cautioned INEC against electoral manipulation through manual result transmission.

Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke: A prominent Ibadan chief who resigned from the PDP on March 2, 2026, to join the ADC in pursuit of the governorship.

Bisi Ilaka, former Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, Akim Abimbola Yusuf and Gbemileke Alagbe Eleniyan showed interest in clinching the ticket of the ADC.

Accord Party

Oriyomi Hamzat, the chief executive officer of Agidigbo FM, a popular radio station in Ibadan, Oyo, has announced his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in the state on the platform of the Accord Party.

Ibadan-based media entrepreneur and philanthropist has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State under the platform of the Accord Party.

The media personality said he never imagined joining partisan politics but decided to take the step after what he described as a “divine calling.”

“I never imagined I would join a political party, let alone contest an election. I have always been a supporter and cheerleader for aspirants and candidates, but God had other plans,” Hamzat said.

The political landscape in the state is however, getting hot with underground campaigns by aspirants, through the display of billboards, banners and hand bills in strategic places within the major cities and towns.

Pundits believe that the pedigree and capability of individual candidates and not parties will determine the choice of voters in the general 2027 elections.