2027: PDP settles for ‘Tesojue’ as consensus candidate for Ibadan South-West/North-West seat
By Seyifunmi Odunuga
In a major move to consolidate its grip on the Ibadan South-West/North-West Federal Constituency, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially settled for Hon. Samson Opeyemi Fatola, popularly known as Tesojue, as its consensus candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election.
The decision followed the party's primary timetable conducted on May 17, 2026, which saw party faithful across the constituency throw their weight behind the grassroots mobilizer in a display of internal cohesion.
The event was a gathering of political heavyweights, attended by top party leaders, members of the State Executive Council, and former lawmakers. Also prominently present were youth leaders and women leaders from across the local governments in the district, including Ibadan South-West and North-West, all of whom affirmed the consensus arrangement.
Speaking after his emergence, an elated Hon. Fatola expressed deep appreciation to the party’s stakeholders and leaders for the trust reposed in him. He specifically singled out former Deputy Governor, His Excellency Hazim Gbolarumi, for his unwavering support and leadership, describing him as a pillar of the party's structure in the state.
Following the conclusion of the event, the Tesojue Team led high-powered delegations on appreciation visits. The team first visited the residence of Hazim Gbolarumi to express gratitude for the former Deputy Governor’s mentorship and his role in ensuring a unified party front.
The delegation also paid a thank-you visit to Mogaji Obisesan, whom Hon. Fatola described as a dear friend and a staunch supporter of modern democracy. During the visit, Fatola lauded Mogaji Obisesan’s commitment to democratic ideals and his consistent support for the constituency's progress.
The PDP Assistant State Secretary, Hon. Dauda Tolani Adio, clarified that the process was a seamless consensus rather than a contest, aimed at maintaining a unified front. According to him, the party leadership worked in harmony to ensure the emergence of a candidate who is both seasoned and widely accepted.
“The House of Representatives primary we had was a successful consensus because we cannot call it a primary election at all; there was only one candidate,” Adio stated. He further emphasized that Tesojue was highly recommended by the screening committee after passing through rigorous scrutiny.
The adoption of Tesojue comes amid a strong rebuttal from the party regarding rumors of internal crisis or a supposed coalition with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State. Hon. Adio dismissed such reports as "political drama" intended to mislead the public, asserting that the PDP remains a formidable force.
Adding his voice to the development, an aspirant for the Oyo State House of Assembly (Ibadan South East Constituency 2), Hon. Taiwo Jimoh, credited the peaceful process to the leadership of the party. He urged all supporters to participate in the ongoing voter registration and ensure the mass collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to seal the party's victory in the 2027 polls.