Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has tasked his advisory council with engaging credible candidates among the Peoples Democratic Party aspirants for the 2027 governorship election.
Investigation revealed that the council, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bolaji Ayorinde, has been mandated to interact with all governorship aspirants under the umbrella of the ruling PDP and provide recommendations for a candidate in continuation of Omituntun 3.0.
Makinde’s decision, according to the investigation, was aimed at giving all aspirants the opportunity to showcase their plans and ideas while ensuring a level playing field.
Invitation letters have reportedly been sent to all aspirants.
Some of the aspirants who have responded include a member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan South-West/North-East, Adedeji Olajide (Odidiomo); State Chairman of Universal Basic Education, Nureni Adeniran; former Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Planning during the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration, Bimbo Adekanmbi; state Chairman of the Agribusiness Development Agency, Debo Akande; and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, among others.
Confirming the development in Ibadan, the state capital, on Sunday, Ayorinde said the exercise was not a screening of candidates but an interaction to understand their plans for the state.
He added that by the close of Saturday’s session, nine aspirants had interacted with the council.
“It is not a screening exercise. It is an interaction between the advisory council and the aspirants. We do not want a situation where there will be any form of imposition from any quarter.
“With the cooperation of the governor, the council, which I chair, is interacting with all the aspirants just to understand their plans for the state.
“Because of that, we have invited all of them, and they have responded individually. They are fantastic aspirants,” Ayorinde said.
The legal luminary expressed optimism that the governor would still engage other stakeholders, including party leaders and traditional rulers, to seek their views before any candidate emerges, to ensure the choice is widely acceptable.
He reiterated that the council was not screening or interrogating the aspirants and would not discredit or disqualify any aspirant, as it had no such authority.
Ayorinde added, “The job of the council is to advise the governor, as a listening leader who is committed to a free and fair process and a level playing field for all the aspirants.”
He explained that the idea of the “interaction” was conceived by the council and approved by the governor, noting that it was the council’s contribution to the democratic development of the state.
“When we are done, I know the governor will still engage all other stakeholders, including party leaders and traditional rulers, so that whosoever emerges will be acceptable to all.
“We do not want a situation where anyone who emerges later will not be acceptable to all stakeholders.
“We are not screening or interrogating them. We are having discussions with them to understand their ideas, visions, and programmes for the state after Governor Makinde.
“When we are done, we will write and send our report to the governor as a council. It is our job to advise the governor, and the governor, as a listening leader, is committed to a free and fair process and a level playing field for all party aspirants,” he said.
Asked if the idea was approved by the governor, Ayorinde said, “If he did not like it, he would not allow it,” adding that the governor also wanted all aspirants to have an equal chance to present and promote themselves openly.
“At the moment, nine aspirants have appeared before the council. There may be a few more coming tomorrow. The process has been rigorous, and the engagement has been intense and deep. This is our contribution to the democratic development of our state,” he explained.
