The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has declared its readiness to wrest political power from Governor Seyi Makinde’s All Progressive Movement (APM) in Oyo State in the 2027 governorship election, as its candidate, Mogaji Olusegun Agboola, has promised to introduce a new approach to governance anchored on long-term institutional development and innovative thinking.
Agboola stated this on Monday at a declaration of intent stakeholders’ meeting held at the SDP secretariat in New Bodija, Ibadan, where he was formally introduced to party members and stakeholders as the party’s governorship candidate.
The Oyo State Chairman of the SDP, Michael Okunlade, said the meeting was convened to introduce Agboola to the party structure and the public, stressing that the party had commenced the necessary processes towards presenting him as its candidate for the 2027 election.
He said, “SDP is the credible alternative that is on ground now. It is not a new party like Cassava Party. SDP is a logo that is known even to our grandmothers, our mothers and our fathers across the local governments in the state”.
Speaking on what informed his decision to seek the governorship ticket, Agboola described his aspiration as a “divine call”, saying the current condition of the country required citizens with fresh ideas and a strong sense of responsibility to become more directly involved in governance.
“Well, I want to describe it with the normal cliché that most people say. But in my own particular situation, it is a divine call. Traditionally, I’m not a politician. I’ve supported politicians, assisted politicians and promoted politicians.
“But the state we are in, in the country right now, calls for a fresh idea. It calls for a fresh look at things and for well-intentioned people who believe that they have a social contract,“ Agboola said.
He said such a social contract should involve serving as “the anchor between the past and the future”, adding that failure by capable citizens to accept the responsibility would only prolong the cycle of complaints about the state of the country.
“If we don’t take up that challenge, we will keep complaining. We will keep looking at ourselves and wondering why things are the way they are,” he said.
Agboola added that his aspiration was also motivated by a desire to give back to the community and people who had contributed to his growth, adding that, “This is the time for us to also give back to the community that raised us, to the people that noticed us and to the people that promoted us and gave us life. So, that’s the reason,” he said.
Agboola also cited the last Saturday’s Osun State governorship election as an example of what he described as the need for voters to resist political intimidation and entrenched political interests.
He said, “We also saw what happened in Osun State a few days ago, where one person stood against so many governors that left their own states to now come and intimidate them.
“But we all know who won the election. And the President was quick to congratulate the winner,” he said.