Oyo SDP Picks New Governorship Candidate for 2027

The Social Democratic Party in Oyo State has picked a new governorship candidate. They announced that their ticket is not open for political talks.

During a meeting in Ibadan on Tuesday, the party confirmed that Mr Michael Okunlade will be replaced by Mogaji Agboola as the governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

The party urged Agboola to unite the members, strengthen its structures, and spread its message across the 33 local government areas in the state.

This change signals a new phase for the SDP as they prepare for the 2027 governorship election. The party's leaders said they are not just looking to participate in the election but to build the strength needed to win.

After his selection, Agboola told reporters that the SDP is not in the race for political deals. He said they are focused on winning the governorship election and bringing a fresh approach to governance in Oyo State.

"The SDP is not in the race for political bargaining. It is determined to win the governorship election and to introduce a new approach to governance in the state," Agboola said.

He explained that the SDP would replace what he called "pedestrian thinking" with better strategies. He emphasized that Oyo State cannot stick to old ways of governance in a changing world.

He said, "The last time we declared our intent, we said pedestrian thinking has to stop and system-based thinking should now be the case. We should stop business as usual and bring new ideas to the table."

Agboola promised that if elected, his government would focus on people development. He wants to create systems that can turn the state's resources into lasting economic opportunities.

"My administration, if elected, will prioritise the development of the people and establish systems capable of transforming the state’s human and material resources into sustainable economic opportunities," he said.

He believes Oyo State should not just be a resource supplier for others. He stressed the need for policies that help residents gain skills and contribute to the state's economy.

Agboola shared his vision to create systems that allow people to use their skills and resources for sustainable economic opportunities instead of sticking to traditional governance methods.

He also rejected the idea that the SDP's governorship ticket could be used for political deals before the 2027 election.

"The ticket is not open to political negotiation ahead of the 2027 election. The SDP is here to stay, and our intention is to take over this state, especially as we see the crop of candidates in all the other parties, whose antecedents we all know. We are here to go to the State House on our own merit. There’s no negotiation on the table as far as we are concerned," he said.

Agboola showed he is ready to debate other governorship candidates about their plans. This shows that the SDP is open to letting the public see and judge their ideas.

On bringing back members who might be unhappy with recent changes, Agboola said he would keep an open-door policy. He invited anyone who feels aggrieved to return. He said, "Anyone that is aggrieved out there, the door is open. Come back home. SDP is the home of true democrats, true progressives."

Earlier, Okunlade, the former candidate, welcomed Agboola's selection. He called it an important step for the SDP and congratulated him.

Okunlade praised party members for their maturity and peaceful actions during the change. He also thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies for their oversight.

He urged Agboola to stay dedicated to the party and work towards winning in 2027. He added that the immediate task for the SDP is to be more visible and active across all local government areas and wards in the state. "We want victory, not negotiation. We want commitment, not abandonment. We want unity, not division," Okunlade said.

He warned against candidates who use the party to run for elections and then ignore its structures. He emphasized the need for candidates to stay committed to the party, saying the SDP's chance to win in 2027 depends on unity, commitment, and grassroots support.

Okunlade addressed accusations from another governorship aspirant concerning the substitution process and his integrity. He said he would take legal action if any false statements were made against him.

He asked party members to respect the democratic process. "Members and aspirants should channel their grievances through appropriate democratic and legal avenues rather than allowing disagreements to weaken the party ahead of the 2027 election," he said.