2027: Gbolarumi Accuses Makinde of Sidestepping PDP Leaders Over Successor Plan

Former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, has alleged that Governor Seyi Makinde is attempting to determine his successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election without adequate consultation with leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

Gbolarumi made the allegation during an Iftar gathering with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists held in Ibadan.

The PDP chieftain, who is identified with the political bloc loyal to Nyesom Wike, explained that his relationship with Governor Makinde became strained after the governor allegedly indicated interest in naming a preferred successor without involving key party stakeholders.

According to him, major decisions affecting the party in the state, including appointments of commissioners, special advisers and local government chairmen, were also taken without broad consultation.

He maintained that as one of the founding members of the PDP in Oyo State, party leaders played significant roles in Makinde’s emergence in 2019 and therefore should not be excluded from future political decisions.

Gbolarumi warned that any attempt to impose a successor could create fresh divisions within the party and weaken internal unity ahead of the next electoral cycle.

He also faulted Makinde’s repeated assertion that he has no political godfather, insisting that several political figures contributed to his rise to power.

The former deputy governor, however, expressed optimism that the party would eventually resolve its internal disagreements, noting that the current disagreement should be viewed as a political contest rather than a personal conflict.

He further claimed that his faction presently controls the party structure in the state.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Yinka Adeniran, appreciated Gbolarumi for sustaining cordial relations with journalists and pledged balanced reportage of political developments in the state.