- Safiu Kehinde
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has denied claims of endorsing the state’s former Commissioner of Finance, Bimbo Adekanbi, as his successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
This is coming amid reports on social media that the governor had named Adekanmbi as his preferred successor.
Reacting to the reports in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Suleimon Olanrewaju, Makinde dismissed the reports.
However, Olanrewaju said that the governor was still consulting widely and would make known his choice at the appropriate time.
“The governor will publicly announce his preferred governorship candidate once consultations are concluded,” he said.
Adekanmbi, a former Commissioner under the administration of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, has remained active in public service and political discussions within the state.
In 2025, Makinde appointed him chairman of the committee overseeing the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport, one of the flagship infrastructure projects of the current administration.
The appointment further raised his public profile and strengthened perceptions of his closeness to the governor’s development agenda.
Political observers say the reports surrounding Adekanmbi’s emergence have already sparked reactions within the ruling PDP and among opposition parties in Oyo State, as consultations and alignments ahead of 2027 continue to gather momentum.
There were also speculations that Makinde may formally declare his support for Adekanmbi and unveil a new political platform before the weekend.