2027: Stakeholders endorse Akande as Oyo PDP consensus gubernatorial candidate

Reports indicate that principal members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have endorsed Dr. Debo Akande as the party’s candidate for governor in the 2027 elections.

Earlier reports suggested that party leaders and other stakeholders had supported two other aspirants, Bimbo Adekanmbi and Shared Akinade Fijabi, at a high‑level consultative meeting in Ibadan.

Sources close to the closed‑door meeting rejected the claim that Adekanmbi and Fijabi were the two candidates under consideration, calling the narrative misleading and not reflective of the actual discussions.

“The story that Fijabi and Adekanmbi were the final two is a fabrication. It was designed to launder a decision made outside the room,” a party source said on Tuesday.

Insiders said Akande consistently placed ahead of the other aspirants throughout the consultation.

During the first inner caucus session, he reportedly obtained three votes on day one and four votes on day two. When the consultation broadened to 21 stakeholders, Akande allegedly received 20 votes, which sources described as near‑unanimous backing from senior party figures.

Meeting participants reportedly highlighted Akande’s competence, loyalty to the party and political experience as key reasons for the endorsement.

Former Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu is said to have openly supported Akande’s candidacy during the deliberations.

“The only person who has contributed and sacrificed so much for this government is Dr. Debo Akande,” the ex‑Speaker was quoted to have said.

It emerged that she held that view throughout the discussions, opposing attempts to advance Adekanmbi’s candidacy over Akande’s.

A source present at the meeting claimed that, despite Akande’s broad support, some powerful political interests are trying to overturn the stakeholders’ consensus in favor of a different aspirant.

Ahead of the primaries, Akande’s supporters maintain that he is the most credible and electable choice for the PDP in the Oyo governorship race, citing his record in governance, long‑standing party loyalty and acceptance across grassroots and political structures in the state.