IBADAN, Oyo State, Nigeria – Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, will publicly announce his preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election before the end of the first week of May.
Okay News reports that Makinde published a newsletter on Saturday, April 18, 2026, confirming this timeline.
“We are approaching that point of decision. I have been consulting widely with our elders, fathers of faith, and other critical stakeholders, and I remain fully aware of the responsibility that this decision carries,” the governor said.
“At this time, while a number of individuals have emerged as frontrunners, I have not disclosed my position to anyone. Any information suggesting otherwise is false,” he said.
Regarding the political platform his chosen successor will use, the governor stated he is delaying a decision until the Supreme Court of Nigeria issues a ruling concerning his current party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
“There have also been questions about the platform on which we will proceed. For now, we await the decision of the Supreme Court regarding our party, the Peoples Democratic Party. Once that decision is delivered, we will communicate our next steps clearly,” he said.
A screening committee established by the governor has been interviewing aspirants since late March. Prominent contenders include the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Nureni Adeniran, the Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, former Deputy Governor and current Peoples Democratic Party Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, the Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, and a federal lawmaker representing Ibadan North-west/Ibadan South-west, Adedeji Stanley Olajide.
Ogundoyin recently confirmed that he rejected a monetary inducement related to speculation about plans to remove the governor.
