Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has urged politicians seeking to succeed him in 2027 to stop making his administration’s shortcomings the centre of their campaigns.
Makinde said he would not be contesting the governorship election again, and urged candidates to focus instead on telling the people of Oyo State what they would do differently if elected.
The governor spoke on Monday, August 10, at a programme in Ibadan, where he also appeared to respond to claims by Accord governorship candidate and broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat, about his contribution to Makinde’s emergence in politics.
Makinde said candidates should be judged by their plans and capacity to improve on what his administration had achieved, rather than by how much they criticised him.
“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, whose second term ends in 2027, said voters should demand clear explanations from every candidate on how they intend to move the state forward.
He urged the electorate to ask those seeking his seat to identify areas where his administration had fallen short and explain how they would address them.
“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 comments come as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with several politicians already positioning themselves for the race.
Among them is Hamzat, founder of Agidigbo 88.7 FM, who announced his intention to contest under the Accord Party in January 2026. He later secured the party’s ticket at its governorship primary in May.
Hamzat’s entry has added interest to the contest because of his previously close relationship with Makinde and his influence in Oyo’s political and social circles.
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In 2022, Makinde publicly acknowledged his relationship with Hamzat, saying the broadcaster’s commitment to the emancipation of the masses was one of the qualities that brought them together.
The governor also said at the time that they had known each other before he became governor, although they occasionally disagreed over issues concerning the administration.
Hamzat has, however, recently claimed that he was among those who encouraged and supported Makinde’s entry into the governorship race that eventually produced him as governor.
He has also claimed that he deserves credit for some of the successes recorded by the Makinde administration during his eight years in office.
Hamzat made the claims while addressing Accord Party members in Ibadan on Saturday, as the political interests of the two men increasingly diverge ahead of the 2027 elections.
The broadcaster is widely known for his interventionist night programme, “Kokoro Alate”, where members of the public discuss personal challenges and seek assistance in finding solutions.
Hamzat said he supported Makinde’s governorship bid because he believed the former would work in the interest of Oyo residents.
Makinde, meanwhile, urged his supporters to look beyond campaign rhetoric and carefully examine the programmes, records and promises of all the candidates.
He said his successor should focus on completing unfinished projects, correcting mistakes and delivering better results rather than simply attacking his administration.
“Tell them that it is where we couldn’t finish that they want to continue, and sort those things out,” he said.