“Makinde Is Playing Political Chess While APC Is Still Arguing” — Why Bimbo Adekanmbi May Become Oyo’s Biggest 2027 Shockwave
Politics in Oyo State is gradually entering a dangerous and unpredictable phase ahead of the 2027 governorship election, and one thing is becoming increasingly obvious: Governor Seyi Makinde understands the game of strategy better than many of his opponents give him credit for.
Love him or hate him, Makinde has proven repeatedly that he is not just a politician; he is a calculated political gamer who understands timing, structure, and public perception. While opposition parties are still battling internal confusion, alignments, ego clashes, and factional supremacy, the governor appears to be carefully positioning technocrats and politically marketable personalities around the future of Oyo politics.
One name currently shaking political conversations across the state is Abimbola Adekanmbi, popularly known as Bimbo Adekanmbi.
The former Commissioner for Finance under late Governor Abiola Ajimobi has suddenly become one of the most talked-about figures in Oyo’s succession conversation. Reports from several political platforms indicate that Adekanmbi has emerged as one of the strongest names linked to Makinde’s succession calculations ahead of 2027.
What makes the situation more interesting — and perhaps more dangerous for the opposition APC — is that Adekanmbi himself was originally a product of the APC political structure before dumping the party in 2025.
That singular movement may end up becoming one of APC’s biggest political regrets in Oyo State.
For many young political observers, Adekanmbi represents three things modern voters are beginning to pay attention to: youthfulness, intellectual depth, and administrative competence. His background in finance, governance, consulting, and public administration continues to strengthen his image as a technocrat with political understanding.
This is exactly why many within political circles believe APC should already be worried.
If the internal crisis, leadership struggles, and what many youths describe as the consistent marginalization of younger voices within the party continue unchecked, the consequences may become visible at polling units during the next election cycle.
Many APC loyalists may not openly admit it yet, but the reality on the ground is changing rapidly. Adekanmbi’s emergence under the PDP umbrella has created silent conversations among APC supporters, especially among educated youths and middle-class voters who already know his political history and administrative track record.
In simple terms, this is no longer ordinary opposition politics.
This is a situation where a former insider with strong institutional understanding could potentially divide the emotional loyalty of APC voters right from the grassroots.
And that is where the real threat lies.
Political analysts have repeatedly argued that elections in states like Oyo are no longer won by party logos alone. Personality, competence, visibility, and strategic communication now matter heavily. Makinde himself benefited from that kind of perception politics in 2019 and consolidated it further in 2023 after defeating APC’s challenge convincingly.
Now, many believe he may be trying to repeat the same formula by positioning someone perceived as competent, calm, educated, and administratively experienced.
Whether that eventually becomes Adekanmbi or another candidate remains uncertain, but one fact remains difficult to ignore: the conversation around him is growing faster than many expected.
The painful question many APC supporters are quietly asking today is simple: how did the party allow a figure like this to slip away?
For a political party that constantly talks about rebuilding and strengthening itself, losing influential younger technocrats while older power blocs continue dominating decision-making may eventually cost the party heavily.
Across Nigeria today, many youths complain that political parties often reduce them to social media warriors, crowd mobilizers, or election-day foot soldiers, while real leadership opportunities remain tightly controlled by long-established political elites.
That frustration is becoming louder.
And when ambitious, educated, and politically connected young figures begin finding acceptance elsewhere, the consequences can reshape an entire election.
The 2027 Oyo governorship race is still far away, but one thing is already becoming clear: Governor Makinde appears to be thinking several moves ahead, while the opposition still seems trapped in internal distractions.
If APC fails to reorganize quickly, unite its structure, and present a strong, youthful, intellectually grounded candidate capable of matching the evolving political reality in Oyo State, the party may find itself fighting not just PDP, but its own former products.
And in politics, there is nothing more dangerous than a rejected insider returning stronger from the other side.
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