A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, has publicly linked his political rift with Governor Seyi Makinde to the governor’s plan to unilaterally select a successor, a move he says violated established party consultation protocols.
Gbolarumi, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with the national leadership faction of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, made the remarks during an Iftar gathering in Ibadan. The event, hosted for the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, provided a platform for the former deputy governor to address the widely noted deterioration in his relationship with Governor Makinde.
He described their previous rapport as cordial, a sentiment shared by many residents of the state who were surprised by the subsequent fallout. According to Gbolarumi, the core dispute originated when Governor Makinde signalled his intention to anoint a governorship candidate for the 2027 election without first engaging with state PDP leaders. This was despite Gbolarumi’s own declared ambition to contest the seat.
The PDP stalwart emphasized that gubernatorial candidates are traditionally chosen through consultation with party stakeholders. He further accused the governor of bypassing these same leaders in the appointment of commissioners, special advisers, and local government chairmen, actions he said have systematically sidelined key party founding members.
Citing his status as a founding PDP member in Oyo State, Gbolarumi noted the party’s instrumental role in Governor Makinde’s initial election victory in 2019—a support given in good faith. He warned that the perceived imposition of a successor risks alienating these critical stakeholders and fracturing the party’s structure. Gbolarumi also challenged Makinde’s frequent assertion of being a self-made politician without a “godfather,” arguing that several individuals significantly facilitated his rise to power.
He stressed that his public statements stem from a duty to uphold party principles, not from personal animosity. “It would be wrong before God for me not to speak the truth,” he stated, framing the issue as a clash of political interests rather than a personal feud. Despite the tension, he expressed confidence that the PDP would eventually reconcile, while noting that his faction currently maintains control of the party apparatus in Oyo State.
The gathering concluded with remarks from Yinka Adeniran, Chairman of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel, who commended Gbolarumi for his longstanding support of journalists and assured him of the chapel’s commitment to fair and accurate reporting on state developments.
The public airing of these disagreements underscores the deepening internal crises within the PDP in Oyo State, a critical region for the party’s ambitions. The standoff highlights a fundamental conflict over candidate selection and internal democracy, with significant implications for the party’s cohesion and electoral strategy in Nigeria’s southwest ahead of future contests.
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