Who Should Succeed Seyi Makinde in 2027?
Zacch Adelabu Adedeji
Again, to become governor in Oyo State is rarely a straight road. It is a winding path littered with the potholes of godfatherism, the bumps of per-second betrayals, and the sharp bends of unrelenting ambition. In that ever-busy arena, some names rise because of noise, others because of strategy, and a rare few because of substance. Among this latter category stands Dr. Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, a 47-year-old technocrat with a first-class mind, Harvard training, and a record of reforms who today presides over Nigeria’s revenue system as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
He was born on January 8, 1978, in Iwo-Ate, Ogo-Oluwa Local Government, Oyo State, Zacch’s life story mirrors the rise-from-humble-beginnings narrative that politicians love to tell. From the cocoa fields of his village to the classrooms of Obafemi Awolowo University, where he graduated with First-Class honours in Management and Accounting, his journey was one of resilience and brilliance. He had earlier bagged a National Diploma in Accountancy from Federal Polytechnic, Ede, before adding a Master’s degree in Accounting and eventually, in 2023, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Accounting from OAU.
However, the hunger for knowledge took him even further to the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he completed an executive course in Economic Development, sharpening his global perspective on fiscal reforms and governance.
By the age of 47, Zacch Adedeji had accomplished what many would consider the work of several lifetimes. His career began at Procter & Gamble, where he rose to become Corporate Finance Manager for West Africa. He later returned home to serve as Oyo State’s Commissioner for Finance under the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi between 2011 and 2015, where he introduced the Treasury Single Account (TSA) that redefined how the state managed its resources. He went on to head the National Sugar Development Council, establishing the Nigeria Sugar Institute, before finding himself at the heart of federal power.
Today, Adedeji is the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), appointed by President Bola Tinubu in September 2023. In less than two years, he has transformed the agency, pushing tax revenue past unprecedented levels and introducing digital reforms that turned tax payment from a dreaded task into a more transparent, citizen-friendly process. At FIRS, he is not just seen as a technocrat but as Tinubu’s trusted fiscal brain.
Yet, for all these towering achievements, politics in Oyo State does not run on CVs alone. Names like Teslim Folarin, Bayo Adelabu, and even other aspirants from the opposition parties are already jostling for 2027. And here lies the puzzle: is Zacch Adedeji simply a brilliant technocrat, or is he a politician in waiting?
Indeed, he has denied interest in 2027 more than once. At a church service in his hometown of Iwo-Ate earlier this year, he told congregants plainly: “I, Zacch Adedeji, will not contest for the governorship election in 2027.” But in Oyo politics, denials often sound like coded declarations. Supporters still whisper his name in corridors of power, believing he is the APC’s brightest shot at reclaiming Agodi.
Hence, what makes Adedeji a compelling possibility for 2027 are his impeccable credentials and his record of technocratic success. A First-Class graduate, a PhD holder, Harvard-trained, with a career that spans Procter & Gamble, Oyo State’s finance ministry, the sugar sector, and now the nation’s tax administration, his résumé speaks for itself. He has proved his ability to reform institutions, raise revenues, and deliver results.
Even more, his “closeness” to President Tinubu further places him in a position of federal blessing and influence, while his humility, spirituality, and approachable nature have made him a figure many see as both accomplished and grounded. However, his weaknesses are no less real. Unlike Adelabu, Folarin, or even Makinde, Adedeji does not have a tested grassroots structure in Oyo State. Beyond his home base, many ordinary voters are still unfamiliar with his name or face. The looming presence of Adelabu, the current Minister of Power and another APC heavyweight and aspirant for 2027, also poses a challenge, a clash between the two could fracture the party’s base and cost the APC yet another chance at power.
His repeated denials of interest in the governorship may also slow down early mobilisation, leaving supporters uncertain about rallying behind him. And for some, there is the risk of perception: will he be seen as Abuja’s anointed candidate, parachuted into the race with Tinubu’s backing, rather than a grassroots choice of Oyo’s people?
More pathetically, If Adedeji were to nurse a governorship ambition, one major obstacle would be the fragmented state of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo. Since the passing of former governor Abiola Ajimobi, the party has struggled to rally around a single respected figure who can command loyalty across its factions. The absence of such a rallying point means that any aspirant must either build an entirely new coalition from scratch or risk being consumed by the endless infighting that has weakened the APC in the state. For someone like Adedeji, who is more technocrat than grassroots politician, the vacuum of leadership in the party could be both a curse and an opportunity: a curse because he lacks a natural godfather to mobilise structures for him, and an opportunity because his reputation for competence could position him as the fresh figure around whom the party might eventually coalesce.
Now, Adedeji to truly become a frontrunner in 2027, he must act deliberately and decisively. His achievements in Abuja must translate into tangible presence in Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun, and Ibarapa. He must mend fences within the APC, particularly with Adelabu, if the party is to present a united front. His technocratic brilliance must also be communicated in simple, relatable promises that matches with young people, jobs, empowerment, and opportunities, not just reforms and policies.
Also, he will have to balance his Tinubu connection with a more localised identity, convincing Oyo people that he is not just Abuja’s candidate but their own son returning to serve. Above all, he must be visible: attending ward meetings, mingling in markets, appearing in public. In Oyo politics, the people need to see their leader, not just read his résumé.
I So, can Zacch Adedeji become governor in 2027? The answer is yes, but only if he steps out of the shadows of denial and fully embraces the political game. He has the brains, the networks, and the trust of the presidency. What he still needs is resonance with the people. If he can build that bridge, the boy from Iwo-Ate who once dreamed beyond cocoa fields may well end up at Agodi Government House.
Add Comment