The leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has said Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde’s preferred governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanbi, has a strong chance of winning the 2027 election if the governor fully commits to the campaign.
Primate Ayodele, in a video circulating online, said the outcome of the election would largely depend on the level of political effort Makinde invests in securing victory for his anointed candidate.
According to the cleric, Adekanbi currently enjoys an advantage over other aspirants, but warned that the election should not be taken for granted.
“Seyi Makinde’s candidate can win the governorship election in Oyo State. The victory is closer to him than every other candidate, but the governor must work very well to get victory for his candidate in the election.
“He should forget about his presidential ambition; it’s beyond him. He has only this governorship election to focus on, and he must be careful so it won’t slip away. His candidate is closer to it, but he still needs to do more work to get victory in the election,” Ayodele said.
The cleric also advised Makinde to concentrate on ensuring a smooth succession in Oyo State rather than pursuing a presidential bid, insisting that retaining control of the state should be his immediate political priority.
Ayodele further predicted a difficult path for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship race, alleging that the party’s candidate, Alli Sharafadeen, could face resistance from within the APC.
According to him, internal opposition among party members may weaken Sharafadeen’s chances at the polls.
“For the APC candidate, even the members of his party will work against him in the election. It will be hard for him because even people closer to him will not support him. One of his problems will be the Olubadan if he isn’t careful enough,” he said.
The Oyo state governorship election is expected to be one of the key political contests ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties already making early moves to position their preferred candidates.
