2027: Ibadan North West Youths Reject Zoning, Cite Makinde’s Governance as Model

​IBADAN – As the race for the 2027 general elections begins to gather momentum, a prominent youth wing in the Ibadan North West Local Government area has formally distanced itself from calls for a “rotational” candidacy for the Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency seat.

​The group described the agitation for an “Ibadan North West Lokan” (it is our turn) arrangement as a “narrow and politically risky” venture that could jeopardize the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) chances of retaining the seat.

​Performance Over Precedent

​In a statement released on Tuesday, the youth leaders argued that the success of the current administration under Governor Seyi Makinde serves as the ultimate rebuttal to zoning sentiments. They recalled that during the buildup to the 2019 gubernatorial elections, there was significant pressure to zone the ticket to Oke Ogun, under the premise that the region had been marginalized since 1999.

ADVERTISEMENT

​”If Oyo State had succumbed to the ‘Oke Ogun Lokan’ sentiment in 2019, we would have missed out on the unprecedented leadership of Governor Makinde,” the group stated. “The state chose competence and broad appeal over geographical emotionalism, and the results—from massive infrastructure in Omituntun 1.0 to the economic expansion of 2.0—speak for themselves.”

​The youths highlighted the Governor’s achievements in education, healthcare, and the agribusiness sector as evidence that “capacity, not birthplace,” delivers the dividends of democracy.

​The Numbers Game

​The youths further warned that the PDP must be wary of the political reality on the ground. Data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) consistently shows that Ibadan South West Local Government possesses a significantly larger voting population and more polling units (473) compared to Ibadan North West (240).

​”Politics is a game of numbers. While we advocate for fairness, we cannot ignore the electoral strength of the various blocs,” the statement continued. “The opposition APC is already making strategic permutations, likely eyeing a candidate from the more populous South West LG to tip the scales. For the PDP to win, we must field a candidate with the reach, structure, and cross-zoning acceptability to win a general election, not just a primary.”

​A Call for Strategic Unity

​The group noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has largely avoided internal zoning debates in the constituency, focusing instead on “acceptability” and “winnability.” They urged the PDP leadership to adopt a similar pragmatism.

​The youths concluded by reaffirming their loyalty to the party’s success above local sentiments. “Our priority is victory. We are prepared to support any candidate—regardless of their local government of origin—provided they possess the capacity to win and the vision to consolidate the gains of the Makinde administration.”

​The intervention comes at a time when several interest groups within the state are beginning to align ahead of what is expected to be a pivotal transition year in Oyo State politics.