Oke-Ogun Advocacy Group Rejects Ibadan Dominance, Demands Power Rotation for Oyo 2027 Governorship

Advocacy group Egbe Ajosepo Fun Itesiwaju Gbogbo Wa rejects Ibadan dominance, calling for the 2027 Oyo governorship ticket to be zoned to Oke-Ogun.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 8:46 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Nation Newspaper.

The Principled Demand for Rotational Governance

The push for a power shift in Oyo State reached a critical juncture on Saturday, April 25, 2026, as the advocacy group Egbe Ajosepo Fun Itesiwaju Gbogbo Wa held a press briefing at Saki Town Hall. The group's National Chairman, Dauda Olaifa, argued that the state has long ignored the principle of rotational governance, leading to a "systematic confinement" of the Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Oyo, and Ogbomoso zones to secondary political roles. Olaifa noted that since 1979, one region—Ibadan—has controlled the governorship for nearly 40 years, a trend he claimed violates the Federal Character principle of the 1999 Constitution.

Rejecting the "Wait Your Turn" Narrative

The group used the platform to issue a sharp rebuttal to Senator Sharafadeen Alli, a leading APC governorship aspirant. Alli reportedly suggested that the Oke-Ogun governorship ambition was currently non-viable and should be deferred to a later date. Olaifa dismissed these remarks as insensitive, asserting that any further delay in rotational equity constitutes a denial of justice. He emphasized that other states in the old Western Region, such as Ogun, have already moved toward inclusive sub-regional rotation, and Oyo should not remain a "negative outlier."

Appeals to President Tinubu and Governor Makinde

Describing the current political climate as an "Ebenezer" moment for the region, the group called on President Bola Tinubu to throw his weight behind a credible candidate from Oke-Ogun. They also urged the incumbent, Governor Seyi Makinde, to support the push for fairness as he nears the end of his second term. The advocacy group stressed that they are not seeking preferential treatment but are instead demanding a balanced leadership structure that reflects the diversity of the entire state rather than a single zone.