Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has tasked the Advisory Council to engage and assess aspirants seeking to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 governorship election.
THISDAY gathered that the Advisory Council, led by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), has been mandated to interact with all PDP governorship aspirants and present recommendations as part of preparations for the continuation of the Omituntun agenda.
The move is aimed at providing all aspirants with an opportunity to showcase their ideas while ensuring a level playing field.
It was also learnt that invitation letters had been sent to all aspirants, with some already appearing before the council. Those who have honoured the invitation include Hon. Adedeji Olajide, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, Dr. Debo Akande, and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Debo Ogundoyin.
Confirming the development, Ayorinde clarified that the exercise is not a formal screening process but an interaction with aspirants to understand their vision for the state.
“It is not a screening exercise. It is an interaction between the Governor’s Advisory Council and the aspirants. We don’t want a situation where there will be any form of imposition from any quarter.
“With the cooperation of the governor, the council is interacting with all aspirants to understand their plans for the state. They have all responded positively, and they are fantastic aspirants,” he said.
He added that nine aspirants had already engaged with the council, while others were expected to appear for further discussions.
Ayorinde emphasised that the council does not have the authority to disqualify any aspirant, noting that its role is purely advisory.
He expressed optimism that the governor would also consult other stakeholders, including party leaders and traditional rulers, to ensure broad acceptance of the eventual candidate.
“We don’t want a situation where whoever emerges is not acceptable to stakeholders. Our role is to interact with the aspirants and provide advice to the governor, who is committed to a free and fair process,” he added.
Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
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