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Ibadan, Oyo State — Oyo State’s political landscape was thrown into fresh speculation this morning following a high-profile visit by the National Chairman of the Allied People’s Movement, APM, Alhaji Yussuff Dantalle, to one of the state’s most influential political strategists, Alhaji Adebisi Aremu Olopoeyan Adeyemi, at his Bode, Bashorun residence in Ibadan.
The visit comes amid swirling reports that Governor Seyi Makinde has quietly directed candidates under the Makinde-Turaki-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Oyo State to begin a coordinated migration to the APM ahead of the 2027 general elections. While no official statement has been issued by either the Governor’s office or the PDP state leadership, the timing of the APM chairman’s engagement with Alhaji Olopoeyan, widely regarded as a close ally and political confidant of Governor Makinde has fueled intense debate across political circles in the state.
Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan, a veteran politician and grassroots mobilizer, has remained one of the most consistent voices in Makinde’s political camp since 2019. His residence has historically served as a meeting point for strategic consultations and alignment within the governor’s inner circle. That the APM national leadership would choose his home for what sources describe as a “consultative homage” has been interpreted by analysts as more than a courtesy call.
Since yesterday, whispers have grown louder within PDP stakeholders’ circles that Governor Seyi Makinde has already made an internal choice for his successor, former Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi. However, the Governor is yet to make a formal public announcement, leaving room for political maneuvering and uncertainty.
The alleged directive for PDP candidates to defect to APM is seen by many as a strategic repositioning move, aimed at consolidating Makinde’s political structure under a different platform while maintaining influence and control ahead of 2027. If true, the development could mark a significant realignment in Oyo politics, with implications for both the ruling PDP and opposition parties.
Political observers note that Makinde’s silence on the succession issue has created a vacuum that is being filled with rumors, alliances, and counter-moves. The APM, a relatively low-profile party in Oyo, could serve as a neutral vehicle for the governor’s loyalists to retain cohesion without the internal contestations that often characterize PDP primaries.
Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan’s role in this unfolding scenario cannot be overstated. As a political gladiator with deep roots across Ibadan and beyond, his alignment is often viewed as a barometer of where Makinde’s loyalists will ultimately lean. His acceptance of the APM chairman’s visit is being read as a tacit signal that discussions are already underway at the highest levels.
“Alhaji Olopoeyan does not host political visitors for photo opportunities,” a senior PDP stakeholder told this newspaper under anonymity. “When he receives a national chairman, it means something is being negotiated. The question now is whether this is about 2027 or about securing a fallback structure for Makinde’s camp.”
Running parallel to the decampment talks is the persistent speculation around Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi’s emergence as Makinde’s anointed successor. The former Commissioner for Finance has been at the center of conversations in recent weeks, with supporters pointing to his administrative experience, grassroots connection, and track record in youth empowerment and infrastructure development as reasons he fits the continuity agenda.
Although Governor Makinde has not made any public endorsement, multiple sources within the state government have suggested that Adekanmbi’s name has been floated internally as the preferred candidate to consolidate the achievements of the Omituntun administration.
The development presents both opportunities and challenges for the PDP in Oyo State. On one hand, a strategic migration to APM could help the Makinde camp avoid a bruising primary contest and preserve unity. On the other hand, it risks alienating loyal PDP members who may view the move as a betrayal of the party that brought Makinde to power.
It also raises questions about the future of PDP structures at the ward and local government levels. Many elected and appointed officials who rose through PDP ranks may find themselves in a dilemma. Remain with a party that appears to be losing its central figure, or follow the governor’s political direction to a new platform.
For the opposition, the situation offers a chance to regroup and capitalize on what could become a divided PDP base. Already, there are indications that some APC stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation, hoping to attract disgruntled PDP members.
As of press time, there has been no official confirmation from the Oyo State Government or the PDP State Secretariat regarding either the alleged decampment directive or the succession endorsement.
The APM National Chairman, Alhaji Dantalle, also declined to disclose details of his meeting with Olopoeyan, stating only that “it was a brotherly visit and consultation on the future of Nigerian politics.”
Meanwhile, political actors across Oyo State are bracing for what could be a defining week. If Governor Makinde eventually makes a public statement on succession or if the decampment reports are substantiated, it will reshape the 2027 political equation not just in Oyo, but across the South West.
For now, all eyes remain on Agodi Government House, where the next move is expected to come from.
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