OYOINSIGHT.COM can authoritatively report that Dhikirulahi Adedeji Olajide, who is currently representing Ibadan North West/South West federal constituency in the house of representatives, is one of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s choices for the 2027 gubernatorial election.
Many keen political watchers, especially those of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had, for months, been on the lookout for who the governor would pick.
In the last few months, names of the PDP deputy national chairman (south), Taofeek Arapaja and that of a former commissioner for finance under the administration of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi, Bimbo Adekanmbi had been mentioned.
But only few weeks ago, Makinde, at a media chat, said that his successor would be below 65, a statement that has edged out Arapaja, late former governor Adébáyọ̀ Alao-Akala’s deputy, who was born in 1958. Adekanmbi also hails from Makinde’s Ibadan North East local government while their villages also fall under Ona-Ara local council area.
Unknown to many, Odidiomo, as the Agbeni-born Olajide is known, had secured Makinde’s nod long ago. Only last year, he was in Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj. He has also begun moves to make himself more visible in the state. Apart from coming home weekly, he was at the Bodija Estate & Environs Muslim Community, BEEMC, Islamic Centre, penultimate week where he observed jumat prayers.
Another source close to the governor who preferred anonymity said that “Left to Oga, he is rooting for Odidiomo. He is a Muslim and from the popular Akuru family. You will notice he has started the groundwork. He has started going outside of his constituency.”
”One by one, he is securing the buy-in of his colleagues from Oyo State, and they are gradually keying into it. They believe he is one of them, and with the relationship between President Bola Tinubu and Governor Makinde, the lawmakers have no fear lending support to one of them. He has, however, not reached out to the senators because he sees them as possible contenders,” another source who is close to Abuja added.
Unconfirmed reports have it that Makinde, in a bid to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, has given the condition that among other things, he be given the opportunity to nominate the governorship candidate, as well as one senatorial candidate, in the 2027 elections in Oyo State.
