Ahead of what is expected to be a keenly contested 2027 governorship race in Oyo State, political permutations appear to be taking shape early in Ibarapaland, as traditional rulers in the zone move to build a consensus around the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin.
At a strategic meeting held in Eruwa on Wednesday, the Ibarapaland Traditional Council, comprising monarchs from all seven towns in the zone did more than endorse the Speaker; they signalled a coordinated regional push to position Ibarapaland for its first shot at the governorship seat in the state.
The royal fathers, led by the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, described the move as a calculated step to unify the zone politically, stressing that Ogundoyin’s emergence could alter the power equation in Oyo politics. Their individual remarks reflected a shared position that the zone must speak with one voice if it hopes to realise the long-standing aspiration of producing a governor.
Beyond the endorsement, the monarchs also hinted at a broader mobilisation plan, pledging to galvanise support not just within Ibarapaland but among indigenes in the diaspora, an indication of early grassroots and elite coordination ahead of party primaries.
Ogundoyin, who formally declared his intention before the council, framed his ambition as a collective project, acknowledging the influence of traditional institutions in shaping political direction. The presence of key PDP figures, local government chairmen, and community leaders at the meeting further underscored what observers describe as a growing political structure being quietly assembled within the zone.
