Gov. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde of Oyo State has not endorsed a preferred candidate to succeed him in the 2027 governorship election, Dr Suleimon Olanrewaju, a media aide, has said.
According to a statement made available to journalists on Thursday in Ibadan, the governor’s special adviser, media, Olanrewaju, dismissed claims on social media that Makinde had endorsed Bimbo Adekanmbi as his preferred successor.
A report from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that social media was flooded with rumours late on Wednesday evening claiming that Makinde had picked Adekanmbi as his successor.
Meanwhile, Olanrewaju noted that Gov. Makinde was still consulting widely and would reveal his choice at the right time.
“The governor will publicly announce his preferred governorship candidate once consultations are concluded,” Olanrewaju said.
Adekanmbi, having previously served as the Commissioner for Finance during the late Gov. Abiola Ajimobi’s administration, has remained active in public service and political discussions within the state.
In 2025, Makinde appointed Adekanmbi chairman of the committee overseeing the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport, one of the flagship infrastructure projects of the current administration.
The appointment significantly boosted his public profile and strengthened perceptions of his deep alignment to the governor’s development agenda.
Political analysts say the news surrounding Adekanmbi’s emergence has 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 rumours that the governor may officially declare his support for Adekanmbi and reveal a new political platform before the weekend.
