2027: The Makinde Succession Race Begins – Spotlight on Bimbo Adekanmbi

By Femi Ajiboye

As the countdown to 2027 begins in earnest, the political chessboard in Oyo State is gradually taking shape. While Governor Seyi Makinde remains silent on his preferred successor, subtle moves and quiet negotiations point to an emerging list of political heavyweights with the capacity and connections to step into the coveted Agodi Government House. One of the prominent names currently gaining traction is that of former Oyo State Commissioner for Finance, Bimbo Adekanmbi.

An indigene of Ibadan, Adekanmbi is a seasoned technocrat with a solid background in public finance and private sector innovation. In 2023, he contested for the Oyo South Senatorial District seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that introduced him to the larger political scene and demonstrated his ambition for higher office. Although he did not clinch the ticket, his campaign showed strategic depth and grassroots appeal.

Surprisingly, despite their party differences, Governor Seyi Makinde appointed Adekanmbi in 2024 as the Chairman of the Ibadan Airport Upgrade Committee a high-stakes assignment that could redefine the economic trajectory of Oyo State. This move has been interpreted in many quarters as both a political olive branch and a strategic positioning of Adekanmbi within Makinde’s succession puzzle.

The Ibadan Airport project is central to Makinde’s infrastructural legacy, and handing over such a sensitive task to someone outside the PDP speaks volumes about the governor’s knack for political engineering. Adekanmbi’s performance in this role could either solidify his reputation as a capable leader or set the stage for broader political responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Makinde’s evolving relationship with Florence Ajimobi, the widow of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, is another factor to watch. Once perceived as political rivals, the growing cordiality between the two has sparked speculation about a realignment that may influence who emerges as a consensus candidate post-Makinde. Florence Ajimobi, a political matriarch with influence in Ibadanland and the Oyo APC structure, is believed to be open to backing a technocratic candidate with broad acceptability—such as Adekanmbi.

Governor Makinde’s history of building across-party alliances, his pragmatic leadership style, and his tendency to play the long political game all suggest that the 2027 transition will not follow a predictable path. Whether Bimbo Adekanmbi will formally throw his hat into the ring remains to be seen. But with increasing visibility, bipartisan acceptance, and strategic placements, he is fast becoming a central figure in the unfolding succession narrative in Oyo State.