Makinde: Don’t Make My Failures Your Campaign Message 

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has urged politicians seeking to succeed him in 2027 to stop using his administration’s shortcomings as a campaign strategy, stressing that he will not be on the ballot.

Makinde spoke on Monday at a programme in Ibadan, where he appeared to respond to claims by some governorship aspirants about his record in office and their roles in his emergence as governor.

The governor said those seeking to succeed him should focus on presenting their plans to the people rather than attacking him or highlighting areas where his administration had fallen short.

Makinde said he had seen several politicians campaigning to become governor, including one who claimed to have played a role in bringing him into politics.

He urged the aspirants to explain what they would do differently if elected instead of making his record the centre of their campaigns.

According to him, the electorate should also challenge the candidates to explain how they would build on his administration’s achievements and address areas where it had not met expectations.

“I have seen a few people going around saying they want to become governor. I saw another one that they showed me yesterday saying he was the one who brought me into politics. Some even said I didn’t do some things.

“I am not the one contesting for governor. The people of Oyo State have given me the opportunity to serve them. Go and tell them what you want to do differently. Stop abusing Seyi Makinde.

“Abuse Bimbo and his followers. You guys should abuse yourselves. I’m not in the league to contest for governor again. Why is it that Seyi Makinde did not do some things? Is that the message you are passing around as campaign? I have done my bit,” he said.

Makinde said his second term would end in 2027 and he would not contest the governorship election again, making attacks against him an unnecessary campaign strategy.

He said, “So next time when people come to talk to you, tell them that it is where we couldn’t finish that they want to continue, and sort those things out.

“So that every mistake that we have made, they will correct it in the best interest of the people of Oyo State.”

The governor’s remarks come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with several politicians positioning themselves to succeed him.

One of the prominent aspirants is broadcaster and founder of Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, who declared his intention to contest under the Accord Party in January 2026 and later emerged as the party’s governorship candidate after its primary in May.

Hamzat’s emergence has added another dimension to the political contest, given his previously cordial relationship with Makinde and his growing political influence in the state.

Makinde had publicly acknowledged his relationship with Hamzat in 2022, saying the broadcaster’s commitment to the emancipation of the masses was among the qualities that brought them together.

He also said at the time that they had known each other before he became governor, although they occasionally disagreed over government-related issues.

Hamzat had earlier claimed that he was among those who brought Makinde into the political race that eventually produced him as governor.

The broadcaster also claimed he deserved credit for some of the successes recorded by the Makinde administration during its tenure.

Hamzat made the claims while addressing Accord Party members in Ibadan on Saturday, as their once-close relationship continues to deteriorate over their divergent political interests ahead of the 2027 election.

Known for his interventionist night programme, Kokoro Alate, Hamzat said he supported Makinde’s governorship bid because he believed the governor would work in the interest of the people of Oyo State.

Makinde, however, told his supporters not to be distracted by campaign rhetoric and urged voters to scrutinise the programmes, records and proposals of all those seeking to become the next governor.

He said the incoming administration should build on what his government had accomplished while correcting its mistakes and completing projects that remained unfinished.