Makinde’s camp in disarray as PDP heavyweights endorse Gbolarumi for Governor

By Seyifunmi Odunuga 

The political structure of Governor Seyi Makinde appears to be crumbling from within as high-ranking stakeholders and heavyweights of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have officially broken ranks to endorse former Deputy Governor, Barrister Hazim Gbolarumi, for the 2027 governorship race.

The endorsement, which has sent shockwaves through the Agodi Government House, was the climax of a high-stakes meeting of the PDP Support Group held in the state capital. The move is seen by many as a direct challenge to Governor Makinde’s perceived attempt to handpick a successor without broad consultation among party elders.

The atmosphere at the gathering was electric, as representatives from across the 33 local government areas took turns to denounce what they described as the "failed leadership" and "deliberate destabilisation" of the party by the current administration.

Leading the charge, the Oyo State PDP Secretary, Dr. Abiola Olaonipekun, did not mince words as he slammed the Governor for utilizing "antics and deceits" to fracture the party's unity. Olaonipekun’s open defiance marks a significant escalation in the internal warfare currently plagueing the ruling party, as he characterized the shift toward Gbolarumi as an aggressive move to "reclaim" the PDP from Makinde's "destructive grip."

The stakeholders maintained that Barrister Gbolarumi remains the most consistent and veteran leader capable of rescuing the party from an impending collapse. They argued that the era of political imposition is over, insisting that the grassroots must have a say in who leads the state in 2027.

Observers note that with the State Secretary and other key party organs now openly backing Gbolarumi, Makinde’s influence over the party’s machinery is facing its most rigorous test yet. The development has left the Governor’s camp in a state of visible disarray, as the "Gbolarumi Movement" gains rapid momentum among the PDP faithful who feel sidelined by the current power structure.

As the race for 2027 intensifies, the open revolt in Ibadan suggests that the battle for the soul of the Oyo PDP has moved from hushed whispers in corridors of power to a full-blown political insurgency.