By Ebunoluwa Sessou

An advocacy group from the Òkèògùn region of Ọ̀yọ́ State has declared that it will no longer accept any political arrangement short of producing the next governor of the state in 2027.

In a letter signed by National Chairman, Engr. Dauda Olaifa, and the National Secretary, Pst. Favour Adéwọyin, addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the group, Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa, warned against what it described as renewed schemes by “political opportunists and regional compromisers” to frustrate Òkèògùn’s governorship aspiration.

The association insisted that the governorship seat, not deputy governorship or party chairmanship, must be zoned to Òkèògùn in the next election cycle.

“Òkèògùn rejects any political arrangement that offers her anything less than the Governorship seat in 2027,” the group stated.
The group said it would no longer tolerate what it called token concessions disguised as compromise, noting that Òkèògùn has remained politically loyal and electorally responsible but has continued to be offered only secondary roles in state leadership.

According to them, the region has produced five deputy governors over the years without being allowed to occupy the highest executive office. It stressed that no Òkèògùn indigene should accept party chairmanship or deputy governorship as compensation, insisting that only the governorship ticket would be acceptable.

The group backed its demand with voter turnout statistics from the 2023 elections, claiming Òkèògùn recorded the highest compliance rate across zones in the state. It noted that while Ibadan had a turnout compliance of 22.6 per cent, Òkèògùn recorded 46.7 per cent, the highest in Ọ̀yọ́ State.

The association described the region as indispensable to any serious political equation in the state, arguing that no zone can secure victory alone but Òkèògùn remains central to electoral success.

The letter also announced the emergence of a coalition called the G22 Renewed Movement, comprising the 22 local government areas outside Ibadan. The group said the alliance of Òkèògùn, Ìbàràpá, Òyọ́, and Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ has strengthened their collective political influence, citing APC membership registration figures showing growing dominance outside Ibadan.

“The balance of political power in Ọ̀yọ́ State is shifting irreversibly,” the group declared, adding that the era of exclusion was coming to an end.
The association argued that since 1979, Ibadan has produced six governors while Òkèògùn has remained excluded, describing the imbalance as unfair and unsustainable.

Appealing to President Tinubu and the national leadership of progressive forces, the group urged intervention to ensure justice, equity and inclusive power rotation in the state. It anchored its demand on the spirit of Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which promote balanced representation in governance.

The letter concluded with a strong message that Òkèògùn would no longer accept symbolic concessions or consolation prizes, insisting that the governorship seat in 2027 remains its rightful demand.