The political atmosphere in Oyo State has taken another dramatic turn as three more appointees of Governor Seyi Makinde have resigned, bringing renewed attention to the growing departures from his administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.Those who left their positions on Monday, November 2, 2026, are the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Ayobami Oluwaseun Ojo; a member of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Sunday Olugbenga Falana; and the Special Adviser on Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Simeon Adegbola Oyeleke.
Their resignations came barely three weeks after the departure of the governor’s former Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, whose exit on October 12 generated considerable political conversations across the state.
Oyeleke, a former two-term member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and former local government chairman, offered a glimpse into the circumstances surrounding his decision, saying he was no longer comfortable with the working environment in the administration.
He described the atmosphere as unconducive to effectively pursuing and fulfilling the aspirations of his people within the government. Ojo and Falana, however, did not publicly disclose specific reasons for their resignations.
Growing List of Departures
The latest development is part of a wider series of resignations involving political appointees and individuals who previously occupied positions within the Makinde administration.
On October 19, four other officials reportedly resigned their appointments. They were Joshua Olusola Afolabi of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Rebecca Oladoja Agbejimi of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Noah Olusola Adeyanju of the Governing Council of Michael Adeniyi Koleosho Polytechnic, Saki, and Suleiman Abiodun Adegbola, a Supervisory Councillor in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area.
Another notable departure was that of Hon. Funmi Arulogun, the former Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, who resigned in August, citing personal and political considerations.
Perhaps the most politically significant exit was that of Ogunwuyi, who was regarded as one of the governor’s influential political associates. His resignation attracted attention amid reports of possible political realignment and speculation about his relationship with the APC camp.
Former Commissioner for Police, Fatai Owoseni, who served as Makinde’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, also left the administration earlier in the year. He subsequently joined the Accord Party, with reports linking him to preparations for the 2027 governorship contest.
A Succession Battle With Political Consequences
Beyond the individual resignations, the unfolding developments have placed the governor’s succession project under closer political scrutiny.
Makinde, who is approaching the end of his constitutionally permitted two-term tenure, has thrown his weight behind former Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Hon. Abimbola Bimbo Adekanmbi, as the candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the 2027 Oyo governorship election.
The governor’s political calculation is to consolidate his eight-year administration’s political structure around Adekanmbi while pursuing his own presidential ambition on the APM platform.
However, the growing departures raise questions about how effectively that political structure can be transferred to his preferred successor, particularly if some individuals who previously helped drive the administration’s political activities are no longer part of the arrangement.
For a succession project that requires extensive grassroots mobilisation, stakeholder engagement and coordination across the state’s 33 local government areas, the loyalty of political associates and influential former appointees remains an important consideration.
Ogunwuyi’s exit is particularly noteworthy in this regard because of his former position at the centre of government operations and his political experience in Ogbomoso. Owoseni’s subsequent alignment with Accord also illustrates how former members of the administration can become part of alternative political arrangements.
What It Means For Makinde Ahead Of 2027
The unfolding situation presents both a political challenge and an opportunity for the governor to reassess the strength of his political network ahead of the transition.
Although resignations do not automatically translate into electoral losses or opposition to the governor, the departure of several officials within a relatively short period could affect internal coordination, stakeholder relationships and the mobilisation machinery required to sustain a succession campaign.
It also provides opposition parties with an opportunity to engage former government associates who possess political experience, local networks and knowledge of the administration.
Nevertheless, Makinde retains considerable political influence in Oyo State, having secured two successive governorship victories in 2019 and 2023. His endorsement of Adekanmbi, alongside the governor’s national political ambition, gives the APM project a significant political dimension.
The unfolding contest will therefore involve more than the popularity of individual candidates. It will also test the ability of political leaders to retain their supporters, manage competing interests and build sustainable alliances beyond government appointments.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the critical question is whether the latest departures represent isolated personal decisions or part of a broader realignment that could reshape the political calculations within Oyo State.
For Makinde, retaining the confidence of his political associates while convincing voters to support his preferred successor may prove just as important as presenting the achievements of his administration to the electorate.
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