Makinde Yet to Anoint Successor Ahead of 2027 Oyo Governorship Race

Oyo State Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde has not endorsed any candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election, his Chief Press Secretary has said, dismissing circulating rumours as premature.

Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, who also serves as Special Adviser on Media to the governor, confirmed on Thursday that consultations are still ongoing within the administration and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He stressed that no preferred candidate has been selected or announced. The clarification came hours after reports surfaced online claiming that the governor had settled for Bimbo Adekanmbi, a former Commissioner for Finance during the administration of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

The rumour had suggested that Adekanmbi, who served in Ajimobi’s cabinet, would fly the ticket of the party that eventually fields Makinde’s anointed successor. Olanrewaju, speaking in a telephone interview, repeatedly emphasised that such claims were unfounded. “They are still consulting. No announcement has been made. No candidate has been announced,” he said.

Governor Makinde, who won the 2019 governorship election on the platform of the PDP after a fierce contest and secured a landslide re-election in 2023, has maintained a relatively independent stance within the party. His administration has focused on infrastructure development, security, education, and fiscal prudence, earning both praise and criticism across Oyo’s diverse political landscape. As the 2027 poll approaches, the question of succession has become a major topic, especially given the state’s strategic importance in Southwest politics.

Bimbo Adekanmbi’s name surfacing in the speculation is noteworthy. As a technocrat who managed finances under the APC-led Ajimobi administration, he represents a potential bridge across party lines in a state where political loyalty often shifts. However, Olanrewaju’s denial underscores that the governor is taking a measured approach rather than rushing into political horse-trading.

In Nigeria’s political environment, where incumbent governors typically wield enormous influence over succession, Makinde’s decision to delay an announcement is significant. Many governors in the past have used the power of incumbency to install allies, sometimes triggering internal party crises or legal battles. Oyo State has witnessed such tensions before, notably during the 2019 and 2023 cycles when intra-party and inter-party rivalries shaped outcomes.

Political observers note that the governor’s caution may stem from a desire to maintain party unity within the PDP while avoiding alienating key stakeholders across Oyo’s three senatorial districts. With zoning debates likely to surface—particularly around whether the next governor should come from Oke-Ogun, Ibadan, or Ogbomoso zones—the consultation process is expected to be thorough.

The development also reflects broader dynamics in Nigerian politics where early anointing can sometimes backfire, leading to defections or weakened candidates. By keeping options open, Makinde appears to be prioritising wide consultations over hasty declarations, a strategy that could strengthen the eventual candidate’s acceptability.

Analysts believe the coming months will be critical as aspirants begin to position themselves, party structures are strengthened, and potential alliances are explored. The governor’s eventual choice will not only determine the PDP’s fortunes in 2027 but could also reshape power equations in Oyo State for years to come.

As consultations continue, stakeholders across the political divide are watching closely to see who eventually emerges as the governor’s preferred successor. For now, however, Engineer Seyi Makinde remains firmly in the driver’s seat of the succession process.