Engineer Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Teslim Folarin of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Chief Adebayo Adelabu of the Accord Party are in a last-ditch effort to control Oyo state.
Any of the three candidates might win the gubernatorial election on Saturday.
There are a total of eighteen candidates running. Ajekiigbe Lateef of AA, Akinwale Tayo Tawfiq of LP, Popoola Olukayode of the NNPP, Okedara Mojeed of AAC and Ajadi Bamidele of ADC, Yusuf Akim of ADP; Adeshina Adewale of APGA; Adeniran Adeyemi of APM; Yinusa Kazeem of AAP.
In the election, candidates will vie for votes from 2,305,903 registered voters in 6,390 voting units split throughout 33 local government districts of the state.
Three gubernatorial candidates stand out from the rest based on their popularity, acceptability, and campaigns. Makinde, Folarin, and Adelabu are their names.
This is in contrast to what transpired in 2019, when the contest was a two-horse race between APC candidate Adebayo Adelabu and PDP contender Seyi Makinde.
Makinde received 515,621 votes in the election held on Saturday, March 9, 2019, defeating Adebayo Adelabu of the APC, who received 357,982 votes.
Adelabu
Adelabu’s campaign is based on his success in the 2019 gubernatorial race, which led him to believe that he is still a contender to beat on Saturday.
The former Deputy Governor (Operations) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) expected the bulk of APC members, who are often regarded as ‘progressives,’ to vote for him.
This is in addition to the backing he would receive from his party members.
Adelabu thinks he has made investments in the state in real estate, agriculture, and hotels. He is convinced that all of this will work in his favor.
Adelabu believes he conducted the greatest campaign and has the strongest profile to rule the state beginning in May.
Folarin
Folarin presently represents the senatorial district of Oyo Central. He has been canvassing votes from communities across the state, claiming that Oyo state should not be in opposition to the APC-led federal administration.
His party gained three senate seats and eight (8) House of Representatives seats, indicating that the APC is a force to be reckoned with in the next elections.
SDP candidates in Oyo North Senatorial district, Mulikat Areola-Akande, and Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East federal constituency, Deji Aboderin, and Accord candidate in AFIJIO, Atiba, Oyo East/Oyo West, Oyeleru Oyedemi have guaranteed their support.
Folarin expects the people of the state to vote for him in order for them to be on the same political side as him.
Makinde
Makinde, the incumbent, has been touring the state, vowing to build on his prior accomplishments in education, health, and agriculture, among other areas.
He is claimed to be conducting a ‘populist’ administration and has received the support of SDP gubernatorial candidate Michael Lana, as well as Accord, Labour Party, and NNPP candidates who lost in the recent National Assembly elections.
These include Accord senatorial candidates in Oyo North, Hon. Shina Peller, candidate in Saki West/Saki East/Atisbo federal seat, and others. Robert Atitlola, Umar Faruk Arisekola Alao, Labour Party candidate in Ibadan North West/Ibadan South West federal seat, Sunday Oni, and Ibarahim Ajiboye, NNPP candidate in Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East federal constituency.
Makinde has also received support from a faction of the Labour Party led by its state chairman, Sodiq Atayese.
He was said to have formed a partnership with President-elect Bola Tinubu, but his party members denied this.
Makinde will rely on his prior accomplishments and the backing of his party members, among other things, to keep his position.
