2027: Oyo SDP Replaces Governorship Candidate, Rules Out Political Negotiation
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State has replaced its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, with the party declaring that its ticket is not open to political negotiation. At its substitution plenary in Ibadan on Tuesday, the party ratified the replacement of Michael Okunlade with Mogaji Olusegun Agboola as its new governorship candidate and tasked him with uniting members, strengthening party structures and taking the SDP’s message to all 33 local government areas. Speaking after his emergence, Agboola said the party was not entering the race to bargain for political positions but was determined to win the governorship and introduce a new approach to governance. He said the SDP would replace what he described as “pedestrian thinking” with system-based thinking, focusing on policies that would develop the state’s human and material resources and create sustainable economic opportunities. Agboola also said Oyo could no longer afford conventional approaches to governance and expressed readiness to publicly debate other governorship contenders on their policy proposals.
Agboola dismissed suggestions that the SDP ticket could be used for political bargaining, declaring that “there’s no negotiation on the table” as far as the party was concerned. He also promised an open-door policy for members who had become aggrieved, urging them to return and work together ahead of the election. Earlier, Okunlade congratulated Agboola and described his emergence as an important milestone for the party, while commending members for their peaceful conduct during the substitution process. He urged the new candidate to focus on expanding the party’s presence across the state’s 33 local government areas and wards, stressing that the SDP wanted “victory, not negotiation” and “unity, not division.” Okunlade also warned against candidates using a party platform to contest elections and later distancing themselves from its structures. Addressing allegations raised by another aspirant, Chief Saheed Oladele, over the substitution process and his integrity, Okunlade said he would consider legal action if any statements crossed the threshold of defamation. He urged members and aspirants to resolve grievances through democratic and legal channels, while the party leadership charged Agboola with consolidating its structures, reconciling members and mobilising support across Oyo State.
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