As the 2027 gubernatorial race in Oyo State gathers momentum, one key question looms large: Who will clinch the APC’s ticket in a state historically dominated by Ibadan’s political class?
The lineup of aspirants is taking shape, including:: Engr. Remi Oseni (Ibadan), Dr. Gbenga Adegbola (Saki, Oke-Ogun), Chief Adebayo Adelabu (Ibadan), Barr. Akeem Agbaje (Ibadan), Oloye Saheed Oladele (Ibadan), Engr. Rauf Olaniyan (Igboho, Oke-Ogun) and Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari (Ogbomoso).
But what will ultimately decide the APC candidate for 2027?
Will it be a directive from the federal power structure, regional dominance by Ibadan politicians, or the candidate’s merit, popularity, and credibility? Can equity, justice, and zoning be prioritized in a state where Ibadan has produced 9 of the 11 governors since 1976?
Some wonder if the highest bidder will take the ticket. Others question if religion or last-minute political maneuvering will upset the balance. Meanwhile, the ruling PDP is positioning itself not to cede power in 2027, with Governor Seyi Makinde promising to unveil his party’s candidate by January 2026.
Within the APC, deeper issues persist. The party remains fractured, with a leadership vacuum still evident years after the passing of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Attempts to use his residence as a symbolic leadership center have failed to produce unity or direction. Comparisons have been made to the family of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, where political succession was never attempted through inheritance.
Without a functional, widely accepted state executive committee, APC risks further internal disarray. The controversy surrounding the emergence of current party leaders has only deepened divisions. Until these cracks are addressed and a more inclusive leadership structure—perhaps modeled after the Lagos APC governing council—is put in place, the party may struggle to mount a serious challenge in 2027.
The task before APC is clear: restructure, reconcile, and refocus—or risk irrelevance.
Dr. Ismail Adewoyin writes from Ibadan