Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Sunday, revealed that his administration has engaged credible individuals as part of a deliberate transition process for the selection process in 2027.

Makinde, in a newsletter No 136, April 2026, tagged: “The Business of Governance,” a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH in Ibadan, the state capital, promised to communicate the outcome at the appropriate time.

He said, “We have engaged with a number of credible individuals as part of a deliberate transition process, and I will communicate a decision in due course, one that reflects both the progress we have made and the future we must secure.”

The PUNCH reports that Makinde, on Saturday, March 21, 2026, tasked his advisory council with engaging credible candidates among the Peoples Democratic Party aspirants for the 2027 governorship election.

The council, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bolaji Ayorinde, was mandated to interact with all governorship aspirants on the platform of the 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.

Some of the aspirants who responded include a member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan South-West/North-East, Adedeji Olajide (Odidiomo); Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, 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.

However, the governor, in the newsletter, said he was aware that residents in the state were watching very closely about the next dispensation.

“I am also aware that many of you are watching closely as we approach a transition period in Oyo State. And that you have questions about continuity, leadership, and the future direction of our state.”

He promised to communicate a decision in due course, though he did not state the date.

However, the governor had earlier announced that the candidate of the party would emerge through consensus on April 8.

On one-party state, the governor said he would engage with people across different sectors to listen and reflect on how they can strengthen the nation’s democratic space in a way that is inclusive, lawful, and sustainable.

“I do not believe Nigeria has reached a point of no return. But I do believe we are at a point where silence, indifference, or withdrawal could take us in a direction we may later struggle to reverse.

“Democracy is not built on agreement. It is built on plurality, on the presence of different voices, including those we may not agree with, because that is what keeps a system open, accountable, and responsive.

“This is not a call for panic. But it is also not a time for complacency. It is a call for awareness and a call for all of us, leaders and citizens alike, to remain engaged in protecting the democratic space that gives meaning to our collective future.

“In the coming days, I will be engaging with people across different sectors to listen and reflect on how we can strengthen our democratic space in a way that is inclusive, lawful, and sustainable.

“Developments within the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, along with recent positions taken by INEC and the judiciary, are raising important questions.

“These are not just political issues; they concern anyone who believes in the future of democracy in our country,” he said.

Makinde lamented that some Nigerians had begun to withdraw quietly from conversations about the country’s future because they felt their voices no longer mattered.

He added that a healthy democracy depends on balance, the presence of credible alternatives and strong institutions to bolster citizens’ confidence.

“But beyond this, I believe there is a broader conversation we cannot afford to ignore – Nigeria devolving into a one-party state.

“This has led to some people beginning to withdraw quietly from conversations about our future because they feel their voices no longer matter.

“A healthy democracy depends on balance; on the presence of credible alternatives, strong institutions, and the confidence citizens have in the process.

“Today, voices that speak up against Nigeria devolving into a one-party state are being openly threatened. Opposition is being fragmented, constrained, or pushed to the margins.

“Whether one agrees with this concern or not, it is not something we should dismiss lightly.

“Because when opposition becomes ineffective, accountability weakens. And when the government cannot be held to account, the everyday challenges we face become harder to resolve,” he added.

Makinde stated that democracy would not be protected by silence, but those who stay engaged, ask questions, and insist that the institutions work for the people. (The PUNCH)

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