2027: APC Guber Race Heats Up in Oyo as 11 Aspirants Jostle for Ticket

The race for the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State has gathered momentum as no fewer than 11 aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have successfully purchased nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the party’s primary election.

Findings revealed that all the aspirants have already undergone screening by the party in Abuja as intense consultations and underground political alignments continue within the opposition party.

Out of the 11 aspirants, eight are from Ibadan, the state capital, while two are from the Oke Ogun geopolitical zone and one from Ogbomoso.

The Ibadan contenders include Senator Sharafadeen Alli, Chief Bayo Adelabu, Dr Adewale Kareem, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, Engineer Akeem Alao, Dr Ayobami Lam-Adesina, Prince Asanke Asatola and Mr Ololade Usman.

Others in the race are Senator Abdulfatai Buhari from Ogbomoso, alongside Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin and Engineer Rauf Olaniyan from the Oke Ogun axis.

Political observers note that the development has once again revived conversations around zoning and regional representation in the state’s politics.

Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Oyo State has largely been governed by politicians from Ibadan, with the late former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, remaining the only governor from outside the Ibadan axis during the current democratic dispensation.

Former governors Lamidi Adesina, Rashidi Ladoja and late Abiola Ajimobi all hailed from Ibadan, while the incumbent governor, Seyi Makinde, is also politically rooted in the Ibadan axis.

Amid growing permutations ahead of the primaries, a senior APC chieftain in one of the Ibadan local government areas disclosed that the party may eventually settle for a consensus candidate.

The party stalwart, who spoke anonymously, claimed that leaders of the party had already informed stakeholders about the preferred aspirant expected to emerge as the consensus flag bearer.

“The party has taken a decision over the selection of the flag bearer. We have been told the consensus candidate,” the source said.

Reacting to the growing number of contenders, a senior lecturer at Lead City University, Dr Bayonle Busari, described the development as healthy for internal democracy within the party.

According to him, the focus should be on competence, leadership capacity and track records rather than ethnic or regional considerations.

“We have a former federal minister, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank, a former deputy governor of the state, a serving senator, technocrats, engineers and entrepreneurs in the race. These are eminently qualified individuals,” he said.

Busari added that Oyo voters should prioritise credibility, pedigree and the ability to deliver good governance over sectional sentiments as the state prepares for another crucial electoral cycle in 2027.