As the race for the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State quietly begins to gather steam, one of the early voices stepping forward is Rtr. Colonel Gbenga Adegbola, a governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Adegbola recently embarked on a political tour across the Ogbomoso zone, meeting with traditional rulers and political heavyweights to build support and rally stakeholders around his vision for a more inclusive and balanced Oyo State.

The highlight of his visit was a courtesy call on the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, and a closed-door meeting with Senator Ayoade Adeseun, a well-known political figure who represented Oyo Central in the Senate from 2011 to 2015.

Senator Adeseun used the occasion to openly criticise what he described as the current government's lopsided development strategy, stating that the Makinde-led administration has heavily favoured Ibadan, the state capital, at the expense of other zones like Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, and Ogbomoso.

“It’s wrong to focus development and political attention on just 11 local governments and ignore the remaining 22,” Adeseun said. “We need to streamline our efforts and back a single APC candidate who can challenge the status quo and represent all regions fairly. The idea that Ibadan holds 52% of the state’s voting power is simply not true. The real strength lies in unity across the zones.”

Adeseun also pointed to other states like Ekiti, Osun, and Ondo, where governors have emerged from regions outside the capital cities. He said it’s time Oyo State follows suit, with a governor emerging from Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, or other historically underrepresented zones.

Adegbola’s political journey within the APC began not long ago when he officially joined the party from his ward in Saki, Oke-Ogun. But since then, he has covered significant ground, moving through the different regions of the state to establish connections and understand the real needs of the people.

“I’ve been to Oke-Ogun, Oyo, Ibarapa, and now Ogbomoso,” Adegbola said during his visit. “I’m not here to divide but to unify. My vision is rooted in fairness, community development, and improved security. In the military, we lived as one—no tribe, no region—just trust and teamwork. Ogbomoso has a special place in my heart because everyone from this land that I served with in the military was dependable and sincere.”

Adegbola also stressed the importance of involving traditional rulers in governance, especially in policymaking and security matters. He took aim at the current administration’s relationship with traditional institutions, saying it has not given royal fathers the respect and involvement they deserve.

While in Ogbomoso, Adegbola visited several respected monarchs, including:

The Alajaawa of Ajaawa, Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji (Olumole II)

The Olopete of Opete, Oba Samuel Bamigboye

The Onipetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran

The Olu of Obada, Oja-Oba, Oba Samuel Oyekunle

During his meeting with Oba Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun commended Adegbola for starting his campaign early and praised his inclusive approach.

“Oyo State is not an easy state to govern,” the monarch said. “It takes strategic thinking and broad consultation. I’m pleased to see that you’re not waiting till the last minute like many others. The people of Oke-Ogun have long been overlooked in this political game. Let’s see what lies ahead.”

Adegbola was joined on the tour by several loyal supporters from communities across the Oyo North Senatorial District, including Saki, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ajaawa, and Opete. The tour itself is being interpreted by political watchers as a strategic move aimed at strengthening grassroots support while also testing the waters for his candidacy.

Both the Soun and Senator Adeseun used the opportunity to encourage unity within the APC ranks, urging party members in Oke-Ogun and other non-Ibadan regions to rally behind a single, well-prepared candidate to avoid splitting the vote and missing a historic opportunity for power shift.

As political conversations begin to heat up ahead of the 2027 elections, Adegbola’s early moves and the loud calls for zoning away from Ibadan are shaping up to be key themes in what promises to be one of the most competitive races in Oyo State’s political history.