Makinde will consult me before naming successor — Olopoeyan

As succession politics quietly gather momentum in Oyo State, Bisi Olopoeyan’s assertion that Governor Seyi Makinde will consult him before choosing a successor has opened fresh conversations over the power dynamics shaping the 2027 governorship race.

Fresh political discussions have emerged in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 governorship election after prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Alhaji Bisi Olopoeyan, declared that Governor Seyi Makinde would consult and inform him before settling for any preferred successor.

Olopoeyan remarked during an interview on Captain P2 Media hosted by Peter Olasupo while responding to questions about possible disagreements that could arise if Governor Makinde endorses a candidate outside his political preference.

According to the veteran politician, there would be no conflict between the two camps because of the longstanding political understanding and relationship he shares with the governor.

He expressed confidence that Makinde would not take any major political decision concerning the 2027 governorship succession plan without carrying key stakeholders, including himself, along.

“Governor Seyi Makinde will consult me and inform me before choosing anyone as successor. We understand each other politically, so there is no reason for disagreement,” Olopoeyan said during the interview.

His comments have intensified political conversations within the state’s political circles as permutations over Makinde’s successor continue to gather momentum less than two years into the governor’s second term.

Political observers believe the statement is significant because Olopoeyan remains one of the influential grassroots mobilisers in Oyo politics and has played strategic roles in previous electoral contests across the state.

Although Governor Makinde has not publicly endorsed any aspirant for the 2027 governorship race, speculation has continued to grow over possible contenders within the PDP and the opposition parties.

The governor, who is serving his second and final term, is expected to wield considerable influence in determining who flies the PDP flag in the next election. This has heightened lobbying among political actors seeking relevance in the succession calculations.

Olopoeyan’s intervention is therefore seen by analysts as an attempt to reaffirm his political relevance and signal his continued closeness to the governor amid rising competition among various interest groups within the PDP.

The development has also triggered reactions among party loyalists and opposition figures, many of whom believe the battle for Makinde’s political structure may become one of the defining issues ahead of the 2027 contest.

Some political stakeholders within the state have argued that the governor would likely prioritise loyalty, competence, and electoral strength in choosing a successor capable of sustaining his administration’s political and developmental agenda.

Others, however, insist that the process could generate internal tensions if influential blocs within the PDP feel sidelined during consultations.

Despite growing speculation, several party leaders have continued to urge aspirants and their supporters to avoid actions capable of overheating the polity, maintaining that discussions around succession remain premature.

The opposition parties in the state are also expected to closely monitor developments within the ruling PDP as they strategise for the next electoral cycle.

With political alignments already beginning to take shape quietly across Oyo State, Olopoeyan’s declaration has added another layer to the unfolding debate over who eventually emerges as Governor Makinde’s preferred candidate in 2027.