Hazeem Gbenga Gbolarumi, a prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) figure in Oyo State and former political associate of the late Ibadan political strongman, Chief Lamidi Adesina Adedibu, has visited the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, as the political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 Oyo State governorship election continues to intensify.
For those familiar with Oyo State’s political history, Gbolarumi’s political journey is closely connected to one of the most turbulent periods in the state’s recent history. During the political crisis surrounding the impeachment of then-Governor Rashidi Ladoja in January 2006, Gbolarumi emerged as a prominent figure in the political realignment that followed.
However, his exact constitutional status as deputy governor during that period has recently become a subject of renewed public scrutiny. In June 2026, a citizen researcher formally asked the Oyo State Government to clarify whether Gbolarumi was officially sworn in and recognised as deputy governor, as well as the precise dates of any such tenure. The request cited inconsistencies in publicly available records.
The broader 2006 crisis was rooted in a bitter political dispute between Ladoja and Adedibu. Ladoja was impeached by some members of the Oyo State House of Assembly on January 12, 2006, after which Adebayo Alao-Akala was sworn in as governor. The Supreme Court subsequently nullified the impeachment, paving the way for Ladoja’s return to office in December 2006.
Nearly two decades later, the political actors associated with that era are once again becoming relevant as Oyo prepares for another major electoral contest.
Following his recent visit to the Olubadan’s palace, Gbolarumi described the monarch’s reception, prayers and blessings as significant to his political journey.
According to a statement posted on his Facebook page, Gbolarumi said:
«“Today, I visited the Palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan, where we were warmly received and blessed with prayers by the Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.”»
He expressed appreciation for the monarch’s “words of wisdom, prayers and blessings,” adding that he and his political allies remained committed to building what he described as a better Oyo State.
Gbolarumi further declared confidence in electoral victory, saying that with God and the support of the people, “we are confident of victory in the gubernatorial election and across all elections in Oyo State.”
He ended with the rallying message: “The journey continues. Together, we will win.”
His subsequent remarks were even more politically emphatic. Gbolarumi portrayed the Olubadan as having a historic connection with the PDP political family and suggested that the monarch’s blessings represented an important endorsement for their political mission.
He said the Olubadan “has sympathy with PDP because we are his product,” adding that he believed the monarch would not disappoint them.
“We are winning this election,” Gbolarumi declared, while describing Oba Ladoja as a father and saying the group was the first to meet the monarch for his blessings.
He also used a traditional Ibadan expression to underline the significance he attaches to the visit, saying: “Alale Ibadan yio gbe wa o. Ibi to Ibadan to bere ni ibi na ni opa ase wa, a ti gba opa ase. PDP power.”
In political terms, the symbolism of the visit is difficult to ignore. Oba Ladoja is not merely the traditional ruler of Ibadanland; he is also a former governor of Oyo State and a major political figure whose career stretches across several decades.
At the same time, the Olubadan has publicly cautioned political aspirants against assuming that association with his name automatically translates into electoral support. In May 2026, he stated that Oyo voters—not his name—would ultimately determine who governs the state, while noting that many governorship aspirants were already invoking his name in their campaigns.
That distinction could become increasingly important as the 2027 election approaches.
For Gbolarumi and his PDP allies, however, the message from the palace visit is clear: they believe they have received the traditional blessing needed to take their campaign to the people.
Whether that blessing will translate into votes is another matter—and, ultimately, one that only the people of Oyo State can decide at the ballot box.
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