A powerful political pressure block,”the Equity and Justice Group of Oyo”, has sent a strong warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), vowing to block any gubernatorial candidate not hailing from the Oke-Ogun zone in 2027.
In an open letter addressed to the President, APC National Chairman, and elder statesman Chief Bisi Akande, the group comprising professionals from 22 Local Government Areas outside Ibadan declared that the era of Ibadan’s dominance over the Agodi Government House must come to an end in the spirit of fairness.
The group challenged the long-held narrative that Ibadan’s massive registered voter base (1.7 million) makes it the sole kingmaker. Citing data from the 2023 general elections, the group pointed out a stark disparity in voter “compliance” and turnout.
Ibadan: 1,778,372 registered voters; only 401,209 votes cast (22.6% turnout).
Oke-Ogun: 651,090 registered voters; 305,634 votes cast (46.7% turnout).
”Available data shows Oke-Ogun recorded the highest voter turnout in the state,” the letter signed by the group’s leadership stated. “It is erroneous to believe Ibadan possesses the sole capability of producing the Governor regardless of what other zones feel.”
The group expressed concern over rumors that the APC intends to field a serving Senator from Ibadan as its 2027 flagbearer. They warned that such a move would turn Ibadan into a “battleground” where candidates split a limited pool of 400,000 votes, while the combined forces of Oke-Ogun, Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Ibarapa could easily deliver a knockout blow.
”We will not support any gubernatorial candidate of any political party if the candidate is not from Oke-Ogun in 2027. We will not accept that injustice.”
While reaffirming their loyalty to President Tinubu’s re-election bid, the Equity and Justice Group issued a clear caveat: their support for the Presidency does not translate to support for an Ibadan-based governorship candidate.
The group noted that with popular broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat (Accord Party) and Governor Seyi Makinde’s likely successor both expected to come from Ibadan, the APC has a golden opportunity to seize the state by picking a “formidable candidate” from Oke-Ogun.
”We have given Oke-Ogun the go-ahead to present a candidate, and we will mobilize all resources at our disposal to support them,” the group concluded, calling on the President to intervene before the party “stitches” its own defeat in the state.