Oyo 2027: Gbolarumi Clinches PDP Guber Ticket in Landslide Victory as Party Unites, Debunks Alliance Rumours

By Seyifunmi Odunuga 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has successfully concluded its primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections, with former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Barrister Hazeem Gbolarumi, emerging as the party’s gubernatorial flagbearer in a landslide victory. The peaceful exercise, which also saw the emergence of candidates for various federal constituencies, was characterized by massive voter turnout and heavy security presence across the state.

The Chairman of the Oyo State PDP Governorship Primary Election Committee, Honorable Awoniyi Tolulope, formally declared the gubernatorial results at the collation centre. Out of 3,694 registered members and 3,640 accredited voters, Gbolarumi overwhelmingly secured the ticket by polling 3,615 votes, while his opponent secured a total of 22 votes. Awoniyi, who commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of party members, declared Gbolarumi the winner after confirming he had fully satisfied the provisions of the party’s guidelines and the Electoral Act.

Validating the credibility of the primary, the Oyo State PDP Chairman, Professor Rahman Akinshowo, described the electoral process as free, fair, and completely transparent. Delivering his acceptance speech, Gbolarumi expressed immense gratitude to God and the relentless dedication of his "rescue mission" team. Fostering a spirit of sportsmanship, he extended an olive branch to his co-contestants, declaring that there was no victor and no vanquished in the intra-party contest. He assured his supporters that the PDP is on the verge of taking over the reins of government in Oyo State, promising that his primary focus and absolute loyalty would remain strictly with the masses.

The political heavyweight also seized the moment to vehemently debunk circulating rumors regarding a purported alliance or ballot merger with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Dismissing the claims as deliberate deceit, Gbolarumi clarified that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) strictly prohibits the printing of two distinct party logos for a single candidate. He warned political detractors to stop attempting to hoodwink the electorate, capping his address with the Yoruba proverb, "Ti iro ba lo logun odun, ijo kan ni ododo ma ba," asserting that truth will inevitably catch up with falsehood.

The party leadership was quick to quash allegations of irregularities raised by an aggrieved aspirant identified as Odun Shola. The Secretary of the PDP Planning and Strategy Committee, Rotimi Ajumobi, expressed surprise over a press release prematurely condemning the election. Ajumobi set the record straight, stating that while the individual had purchased the nomination form, he failed the party's official screening exercise at the national headquarters and was consequently excluded from the primary. Professor Akinshowo corroborated this, clarifying that the state chapter had no hand in any disqualifications, as only two candidates were officially cleared by the national body for the gubernatorial race.

Echoing the success of the exercise, the PDP National Women Leader, Professor Adenike Ogunse MNI, expressed profound satisfaction with the transparency of the primary. She commended the heavy and effective deployment of security personnel, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force, for maintaining absolute order in a state historically known for political volatility. Professor Ogunse firmly rejected the APM merger rumors, describing them as condescending to a formidable party like the PDP, declaring that since there was never a political marriage, there could be no divorce. She further debunked claims of internal splinter groups, insisting that the mainstream PDP remains a single, unified, and law-abiding entity following the resolution of past internal disputes.

The wave of successful primaries extended to the federal legislative tickets, with Aare Akinkunmi Akinyemi officially emerging as the party’s candidate for the Ibadan South East/North East Federal Constituency. Shortly after his declaration by the state organizing secretary, Akinyemi swiftly dismissed insinuations that a rival aspirant had claimed victory for the same ticket, urging the public to rely on documented facts rather than hearsay.

Similarly, the PDP candidate for the Ibadan South-West/North-West Federal Constituency, Hon. Samson Opeyemi Fatola, lauded the seamless conduct of the primary election. Both Akinyemi and Fatola expressed unwavering confidence in the PDP's readiness to unseat the incumbent administration in Oyo State, pointing to the massive grassroots turnout during the primaries as a clear indicator that the party is fully prepared to reclaim the state in 2027.