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Political tremors are currently reverberating within the corridors of power in Oyo State following strong indications that Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, Chief of Staff to the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde FNSE, may have quietly distanced himself from the Governor’s political camp.
Though the development is yet to be confirmed by Otunba Ogunwuyi himself, multiple sources within the PDP-APM coalition and government circles suggest that the once-close ally of the Governor has grown distant in recent weeks.
Otunba Ogunwuyi has, since 2019, been regarded as one of the leading beneficiaries and strong pillars of the Makinde administration.
A technocrat and politician with deep roots in Ogbomoso politics, he served as Executive Assistant to the Governor on Investment before his elevation to pioneer Director-General of the Oyo State Investment and Public-Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPPPA). In that capacity, he drove landmark initiatives such as the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA), which facilitated major infrastructure projects across the state.
In recognition of his loyalty and service, Governor Makinde appointed him Chief of Staff in 2019, a position he retained after the Governor’s re-election. He has since functioned as the administrative engine of the government, signing key directives and coordinating policy implementation.
The current wave of speculation stems from developments within the PDP-APM coalition that recently concluded its consensus process to pick candidates for the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State.
Sources disclosed that Otunba Ogunwuyi, who also harbored gubernatorial aspirations, was reportedly unsettled when the consensus ticket was finalized. More significantly, the Deputy Governorship slot under the consensus candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, was zoned to Ogbomoso and given to Hon. Open-Salawu, a fellow indigene of Ogbomoso zone.
This arrangement, according to insiders, created deep political discomfort for the Chief of Staff, who many believed was the most senior political stakeholder from Ogbomoso within the Makinde government.
The rumors gained further traction during the coalition’s Thank-You Tour to Ogbomoso.
Notably, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi was conspicuously absent from the tour, despite it taking place in his political base and senatorial district. His absence was particularly striking because Hon. Open-Salawu, the new deputy pick from the same zone, was prominently featured.
Since that event, the Chief of Staff has maintained an unusually low public profile, declining to make political statements or appear at key coalition functions. The silence, observers say, is deafening for a man once known as the Governor’s most visible lieutenant.
Political analysts describe the development as a potential major crack in the Governor’s inner circle ahead of 2027.
Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi’s pedigree as a former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly (2011-2015), former member of the House of Representatives for Ogbomoso North/South/Oriire (2015), certified accountant, MBA holder from Obafemi Awolowo University, and Otunba Mayeloye of Ijeru Kingdom, makes him a formidable political asset in Ogbomoso and beyond.
His possible exit, if confirmed, would represent a significant political loss for the Makinde camp, especially in Ogbomoso where power balancing will be critical in 2027.
While government officials have declined to comment on the matter, party stakeholders are watching closely for an official statement from Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi.
As of press time, he has neither confirmed nor denied the defection rumors.
Political observers, however, note that his silence since the consensus announcement and his absence from the Ogbomoso Thank-You Tour speak volumes about the state of his relationship with the current administration.
The Oyo political space is entering a delicate period. If Segun Ogunwuyi, one of the most influential technocrats and political strategists in the Makinde government, has indeed decamped, it could reshape alliances, alter zoning calculations, and impact the PDP-APM coalition’s cohesion ahead of 2027.
All eyes are now on Ogbomoso and Ibadan as stakeholders await clarity from the Chief of Staff himself.
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