A group, Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹ̀síwájú Gbogbo Wa, has insisted on zoning of the governorship ticket to the Oke-Ogun Zone of Oyo State, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The group restated its position during a press briefing held on Tuesday at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, disowning two former deputy governors who hailed from the zone for their stance on the governorship ticket.
Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹ̀síwájú Gbogbo Wa, under the leadership of Engineer Dauda Lawal, is an advocacy movement committed to governorship power rotation to Oke-Ogun in 2027.
A leader of the group, Alhaji Muda Ogunsola spoke to a statement jointly signed by the national chairman and secretary of the group, Engineer Olaifa and Pastor Favour Adewoyin, respectively.
He disclosed that the people of Oke-Ogun former Deputy Governors Iyiola Oladokun and Moses Alake, and the Oyo State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro and others “over tokenistic political offers.”
He declared: “Today’s briefing is not merely a political response; it is a historic declaration. It is a statement of identity, dignity, and collective resolve by the good people of Oke-Ogun.”
Offering a background to the issues at stake, he said: “You are all aware of recent political developments in Oyo State, particularly the renewed zoning of the state chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Oke-Ogun.
“A review of political history since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999 reveals a consistent and unmistakable pattern.
“Under the progressive fold, party chairmanship has rotated as follows: Chief Michael Koleoso Saki, Oke-Ogun, Oyo North), Chief David Adesola (Oyo North); Chief Samuel Farinu (Oyo Central); Chief Akin Oke, Ogbomoso (Oyo North);
“Hon. Isaac Omodewu (Otu, Oke-Ogun, Oyo North); Alhaji Olaide Abas (Ibarapa, Oyo South). Alhaji Abas emerged following the unfortunate demise of Hon. Isaac Omodewu.
“A similar trajectory is evident within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)- Mr Jacob Adetoro (Igbeti, Oke-Ogun, Oyo North, 2017 faction); Mr. Omokunmi Mustapha (Iseyin, Oke-Ogun, Oyo North, 2017 faction);
“Hon. Michael Okunlade from Igboho (factional chairman, 2021); Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro (Otu, Itesiwaju, elected chairman in 2021 and re-elected in 2025).”
According to Alhaji Ogunsola, there was a time when the state chairmen of both the APC and PDP came from the same town in Oke-Ogun.
“So, the evidence is clear and incontrovertible that, for over two decades, the position of party chairman, across party lines, has been disproportionately domiciled in Oyo North, particularly Oke-Ogun,” he added.
He therefore said the position of the group is “no to tokenism”, adding: “Given this historical reality, suggesting yet another party chairmanship slot for Oke-Ogun amounts to political tokenism.
“It is neither justice, nor inclusion. It is a strategic consolation prize designed to perpetuate executive exclusion.
“Experience has consistently shown that once a lesser political office is zoned to a particular region, the prospects of that same region subsequently producing the governor become significantly diminished, if not completely foreclosed.
“It was this experience that we bore in mind that informed our decision, from the inception of our movement in December 2024, to take a principled and unambiguous stand on behalf of the people in all the 10 local government areas of Oke-Ogun.
“We included in our operational document that: No to deputy governorship (Oke-Ogun has produced five deputy governors); no to party chairmanship (history already shows overwhelming occupancy); yes to the governorship of Oyo State in 2027.
“In other words, from the beginning, we have spelt out that we reject any form of symbolic appeasement. What we demand is substantive inclusion.
“As our elders would say: Kò s’Ọ́bọ mọ́ n’Ídànrè (there is no monkey left on Ìdànrè mountain). We are saying unequivocally that the era of political deception is over.
“And again, our elders also said: Kò s’óhun t’Ọ́bọ fi ṣ’orí t’Ínàkí ò fi ṣ’orí. What benefits one region must benefit another. We say equity is not selective and he who must come to equity must come with a clean hand.”
Calling for a structured power rotation, Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹ̀síwájú Gbogbo Wa asserted that power rotation is not alien to progressive governance.
“We can see it operational in sister South-West states and beyond — states such as Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos State, as well as Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta state. Why should Oyo State be an exception?
“Section 14 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) enshrines the principle of federal character; equitable distribution to prevent domination and promote inclusion. This constitutional spirit must guide political engineering in Oyo State.”
The group issued a disclaimer on those it described as self-appointed spokespersons, stating that former Deputy Governors Oladokun and Alake, as well as Oyo PDP chairman, Ogungbenro “do not represent the collective mandate of Oke-Ogun people in negotiations that undermine our governorship aspiration.”
The group asserted that the trio have no relevance in the zone, alleging that they were only seeking for party positions for their own selfish ends.
“Holding party office does not confer moral authority to mortgage a region’s destiny.
“The true leaders of Oke-Ogun are the people themselves — the voters, the grassroots, the silent majority. Any engagement that trades our governorship demand for subordinate positions is rejected in totality,” it stated.
The group further declared: “Let this message resonate across party lines. Oke-Ogun is next in line to produce the governor of Oyo State in 2027.
“Our struggle is neither sectional nor self-serving. It is a principled movement for the emancipation and equitable recognition of all marginalised regions within Oyo State.
“We therefore extend a sincere call to our compatriots in Ibarapa, Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Ibadan to rise above narrow interests and join hands with us in reshaping the political architecture of the Pacesetter State.
“We deem it imperative to remind every well-meaning son and daughter of Ibadan that the people of Oke-Ogun have, without hesitation or hidden agenda, stood firmly and loyally behind Ibadan sons in their ascent to the governorship of Oyo State.
“We invested our trust, our strength, and our solidarity in the collective interest of fairness and shared progress.
“Today, history beckons. The moment has arrived for that goodwill to be reciprocated. As we stood by you in your season, we now look with confidence and expectation to your principled support in ours — so that equity, justice, and balanced leadership may not merely be preached, but practiced.
“Together, through unity of purpose and collective resolve, we can enthrone a new order anchored on fairness, justice, inclusion, and balanced power rotation for the good of all.”
The group called on both the APC and PDP to zone their 2027 governorship tickets to Oke-Ogun and present a broadly-acceptable candidate capable of uniting all zones across board.
It noted that it has, on an individual basis, been in consistent talks with qualified, competent and prominent Oke-Ogun indigenes who are good enough to contest the governorship election in 2027.
The group listed among the indigenes Engineer Remi Olaniyan (a former deputy governor); Barrister Bayo Shittu (a former minister); Colonel (Dr Gbenga Adegbola (rtd); Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin (a former commissioner); Dr Ayandoye; and Beulah Adeoye, a prominent governorship aspirant.
Concluding the briefing, Alhaji Ogunsola said: “In a nutshell, what we seek is sense of belonging. We seek fairness and we seek justice.
“Finally, it is good to say that, this is not rebellion; it is reason. It is not agitation; it is advocacy; and, it is not hostility; it is history demanding correction.”
