Makinde to Oyo Residents: Expect My Successor’s Name in January 2026

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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced that he will disclose his preferred successor in January 2026. Makinde made this declaration on Monday during the 11th Omituntun Ramadan Lecture held at the Government House arcade in Ibadan, the state capital. The lecture, themed *‘Benefits of Being a Good Neighbour: An Islamic Perspective’*, was delivered by Yunus Teliat, the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoland. Speaking in Yoruba, the governor expressed gratitude to Muslim leaders for their unwavering support and urged them to continue praying for his administration. He also made a lighthearted remark to socialite Abbas Oloko, advising him not to remove his billboard at Isale Alfa, as the image of his chosen successor would be displayed there in January 2026. “In January 2026, we know that political activities will commence. I will show you the picture of the person who will be installed there,” Makinde stated. He also encouraged Muslims to use the Ramadan season to foster peaceful coexistence, irrespective of religious differences. Having been re-elected in 2023 and constitutionally barred from seeking another term, Makinde has consistently expressed his intention to play a role in selecting his successor. In October 2024, while receiving a report on public service reforms, he reaffirmed his intention to influence the next governor’s selection, particularly within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). “So those who are campaigning to be the next governor still have to wait because I remain in office until May 29, 2027. And I will also have a say in who becomes the next governor,” Makinde remarked. “I may not have my way, as the people of Oyo State will ultimately decide, but I will have a say. Especially within the PDP, they will have me to contend with because I am still the one controlling the party structure.”