Makinde Picks Bimbo Adekambi as Preferred Successor After Marathon Stakeholder Talks
Makinde Picks Bimbo Adekambi as Preferred Successor After Marathon Stakeholder Talks
After several hours of closed‑door consultations with party elders, political associates and key stakeholders in Ibadan, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has finally settled on former Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Bimbo Adekambi, as his preferred candidate to fly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag in the 2027 governorship election, with an official declaration expected within the next 24 hours if current plans hold.
Oyo’s political landscape moved a step closer to clarity on Makinde’s long‑awaited succession plan on Wednesday as multiple sources at the Government House confirmed that consensus had been reached in favour of Adekambi after marathon meetings stretching late into the night. The deliberations, which brought together senior PDP chieftains, key members of the governor’s inner circle and influential figures from religious and socio‑cultural blocs, were described as “decisive” and “exhaustive” by those familiar with the discussions.
Adekambi, a former Deputy Chief of Staff and ex‑Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State, has in recent months emerged as one of the most visible aspirants in the unfolding 2027 governorship race. He previously served in the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, where his stewardship of the finance and budget portfolio earned him a reputation for fiscal discipline and technocratic competence across party lines.
His journey back into the PDP and into Makinde’s inner orbit has been closely watched by analysts. After resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he once sought a senatorial ticket, Adekambi formally crossed over to the ruling party and has since been entrusted with sensitive assignments, including heading the Ibadan Airport Upgrade Committee, a project widely seen as central to Makinde’s economic agenda for the state.
Makinde had repeatedly hinted that he would play a defining role in who succeeds him but had, until now, resisted pressure to publicly name a favourite. In newsletters and public remarks, particularly at Ramadan lectures and party gatherings since 2025, the governor spoke more about the qualities he wanted in a successor—capacity, integrity and a commitment to consolidating his development blueprint—than about specific names, fuelling speculation and jostling within the PDP.
The choice of Adekambi is expected to recalibrate existing permutations within the party and beyond. Several other aspirants, including long‑standing PDP loyalists and serving federal appointees eyeing the Agodi Government House, have already begun informal campaigns, building structures across the 33 local government areas and courting critical blocs such as labour, youth and traditional institutions. Party insiders say the governor’s move could force some of them into negotiations over power‑sharing, running‑mate slots and other concessions ahead of the PDP primary.
Outside the PDP, opposition figures are also closely monitoring the development. The All Progressives Congress, Social Democratic Party and other platforms are believed to be weighing candidates with strong name recognition and financial muscle to challenge the ruling party’s eventual flagbearer, especially if internal disagreements within the PDP deepen over Makinde’s anointed choice.
For now, attention turns back to Agodi and to when Makinde will step forward to make his decision public. The governor had earlier promised that his preferred successor would be unveiled before the end of the first week of May, and insiders suggest that an official address, likely to be broadcast live and followed by a major rally at the PDP secretariat in Ibadan, could come as early as tomorrow if the current timetable is not altered by last‑minute political or legal developments.
