“I Was Misled Out of the 2027 Race” — Adebayo Shittu Dumps Oyo Governorship Ambition, Throws Weight Behind Oke-Ogun Power Shift
Former Minister of Communications and prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adebayo Shittu, has announced his withdrawal from the 2027 Oyo State governorship race, alleging that political forces within the party deceived him into stepping aside under the guise of acting on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Shittu made the revelation during a radio programme in Ibadan, where he opened up on the internal politics rocking the APC in Oyo State, his personal political disappointment, and the growing agitation for the governorship seat to be zoned to the Oke-Ogun region.
According to the former minister, he had initially shown strong interest in contesting the governorship election but later decided to pull back after certain political actors allegedly approached him with claims that they were representing the interests of President Tinubu. Shittu stated that he later discovered the claims were misleading and politically motivated.
The outspoken APC stalwart described the development as a painful betrayal, saying he felt manipulated out of what he believed was a legitimate ambition backed by years of political experience and service to Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
Shittu, who previously served as Nigeria’s Minister of Communications under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2019, remains one of the most recognizable political figures from the Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State.
The former minister has, in recent months, consistently advocated for a power shift in Oyo State, insisting that the Oke-Ogun zone deserves an opportunity to produce the next governor after decades of political dominance by Ibadan. In one of his earlier interviews, Shittu argued that fairness and political equity demand that power rotates away from Ibadan in 2027.
“Oke-Ogun cannot continue to play second fiddle in Oyo politics,” Shittu reportedly maintained while emphasizing that the region has competent and qualified leaders capable of governing the state effectively.
The debate over zoning and regional balance has continued to gain momentum ahead of the 2027 governorship election, especially as Governor Seyi Makinde will complete his constitutionally allowed second term in office by 2027.
Political observers believe the APC in Oyo State may be heading toward another intense internal battle as multiple influential figures continue to show interest in the governorship race. Names such as Adebayo Adelabu, Senator Teslim Folarin, and other APC power blocs have repeatedly surfaced in discussions surrounding the party’s future leadership direction in the state.
Interestingly, Shittu had earlier declared publicly that he possessed the political experience needed to govern Oyo State, citing his history as a lawmaker, commissioner, attorney-general, and federal minister. However, his latest comments now suggest that he may have completely shifted focus from personal ambition to regional political advocacy.
Analysts believe his withdrawal could significantly reshape the political equation within the APC, particularly in Oke-Ogun where he commands influence among party loyalists and grassroots supporters.
Beyond his personal decision, Shittu’s remarks also expose the lingering internal distrust and factional struggles within the Oyo APC. The party has continued to grapple with leadership disagreements, competing interests, and unresolved alliances since losing the governorship seat in 2019 and failing to reclaim it in 2023.
With political consultations already intensifying ahead of 2027, the battle for who succeeds Governor Makinde is gradually taking center stage in Oyo politics. While some stakeholders are pushing for competence and popularity as the deciding factor, others insist that regional inclusion and fairness should shape the next political arrangement.
For now, Adebayo Shittu says he is stepping aside from the governorship contest — but not from the political conversation. Instead, the veteran politician appears determined to champion what he calls the “Oke-Ogun agenda,” a movement seeking to produce the next governor of Oyo State from the region for the first time in the current democratic dispensation.
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