Strong indications emerged on Wednesday that Seyi Makinde may announce former Oyo Commissioner for Finance, Bimbo Adekanmbi, as his preferred governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 election.
The governor is also expected to unveil the Action Democratic Party as the political platform for his loyalists, supporters, and members of the Peoples Democratic Party seeking elective positions in the state.
Report stated that Makinde had settled for Adekanmbi, although there were differing views on the party platform to be adopted, with some mentioning the possibility of the National Democratic Party.
Some individuals within the governor’s inner circle and party stakeholders across the state were reportedly informed of the decision on Wednesday.
One source said, “We are going to the ADP, and Bimbo Adekanmbi shall be our candidate.”
However, others declined to comment, insisting the governor should personally make the announcement.
PDP stalwarts expressed confidence that Makinde would publicly reveal his preferred candidate and political platform within the next 48 hours.
Another source disclosed that the governor may formally announce his choice on Sunday.
Adekanmbi previously served as commissioner during the administration of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi.
A source said, “Governor Makinde will tomorrow (Thursday) unveil his preferred consensus candidate. The venue is unknown to me as we speak. The candidate has met with party stakeholders, Oyo Assembly stakeholders, prominent individuals within and outside Ibadan, and the 33 local government chairmen in the state.
“The preferred candidate has appeared before an elders council, Oyo lawmakers and council chairmen across the state, where discussions centred on endorsement ahead of a formal public announcement.
“The meeting was crucial in building consensus among influential figures within the state’s political structure.
“There are also growing indications that the political movement surrounding the governor and his loyalists may be shifting towards a party different from those being speculated, though no official confirmation has been made by Governor Makinde himself.”
Speculation over Adekanmbi’s governorship ambition intensified after Makinde appointed him chairman of the 11-member committee overseeing the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport on July 30, 2024.
Adekanmbi officially joined the PDP on December 10, 2025, and declared his governorship ambition on April 21, 2026, during a visit to the party secretariat in Oke-Ado, where he met with party leaders and stakeholders.
Following his declaration, he reportedly held consultations with party stakeholders, members of the state House of Assembly, and local government chairmen across Oyo State.
He had earlier contested for the Oyo South senatorial ticket under the All Progressives Congress in 2023.
Earlier in March, Makinde directed the state advisory council led by Bolaji Ayorinde to engage governorship aspirants within the PDP.
Ayorinde explained that the aspirants were not screened but engaged in discussions regarding their plans for the state.
Other aspirants who appeared before the council include Adedeji Olajide, Nureni Adeniran, Debo Akande, and Adebo Ogundoyin.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Oyo PDP Public Relations Officer, Micheal Ogunsina, said, “We don’t know the governor’s choice of candidate and party platform, but we expect that he would announce this within the next 48 hours.”
Chairman of Egbeda Local Government and state ALGON chairman, Sikiru Sanda, also stated, “I am not aware of any preferred or consensus candidate because the governor has not discussed that with us.”
Some PDP stalwarts, however, argued that Makinde may face challenges convincing the Muslim community to support Adekanmbi because of an alleged understanding reached in 2023 that the next governor should be Muslim.
One party chieftain said, “Adekanmbi is a Christian, but there is an unwritten agreement reached with the governor in 2023 that his successor should be Muslim. We wait to see how it goes.”
The source added that the APC appeared aware of the religious consideration, noting that many of its prominent governorship hopefuls are Muslims.
Supporters of other governorship aspirants said they were waiting to see whether Makinde would attempt to compel them to support his preferred candidate.
Meanwhile, there are speculations that the governor may direct aspirants to move to another political party while he remains in the PDP pending the resolution of the party’s internal crisis.
The crisis within the PDP worsened after the Supreme Court of Nigeria nullified the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
In a split decision delivered by a five-member panel, three justices ruled that the appeal filed by a faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, lacked merit, thereby affirming earlier judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal which invalidated the convention.