From Bolanle Sarumi’s potentials to Beulah Adeoye’s rising ambition, from Akin Alabi’s strong credentials to Adebayo Adelabu’s long-term aspirations for the governorship and underdog International Techpreneur, Oluseun Onigbinde, our trip through Oyo State’s pool of potential 2027 contenders has been both eye-opening and engaging.
However today, we move our focus to a very different kind of candidate, a “disruptor” of normal tradition, a young politician who didn’t climb the usual ladder through the very old guard but has instead fired his own trail with intentional attention and a rising youth-driven appeal.
Rt. Hon. Adebo Edward Ogundoyin, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria who is 37 years old of age is already emblematic of a generational shift. Quite Articulate, grassroots-savvy, and strategically open on both local-state and national platforms, he brings an expected refreshing contrast to the typical profile of Oyo’s gubernatorial hopefuls. Can this charisma, legislative finesse, and symbolic representation converts to the real political firepower? Can he break through the zoning politics, the Ibadan power bloc, populism and the layers of party tiny rope that define Oyo’s political culture? Could he, perhaps, be the first non-Ibadan man to govern Oyo State since late Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala?
Born in 1987 in Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government Area, Ogundoyin carries an heavy surname that resounds far beyond his hometown. As the son of the late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin, a respected philanthropist and business tycoon, he inherited name identification and a reputed legacy. However, he chose not to coast on that reputation. His political gateway in 2018 came under rare circumstances, a by-election following the death of then-Speaker Hon. Michael Adeyemo. Yet, he defied expectations, winning through calculated mobilization, strategic grassroots engagement, and sheer grit, which no one really could predict.
Since then, he has not looked back. In 2019, he made history as Nigeria’s youngest Speaker at just 32. And again in 2023, he insurer a third term in the Assembly, unheard of in Ibarapa East, and also retained the Oyo Speakership. That same year also, he became the first opposition figure and the youngest politician to chair the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria. Obviously , he’s not just occupying political space; he’s reshaping it.
Even more, Ogundoyin’s leadership of the 9th Oyo Assembly was defined by effectiveness and synergy. Far from being that rubber-stamp body, the Oyo Assembly maintained a working relationship with the Executive while keeping its oversight role reasonably intact. Adebo also proved that youth is not similar with passivity, he led the legislative chamber with admired discipline, influence, and a surprisingly mature political touch. How impressive!
However, with an average age of past Oyo governors floating around the late 50s, Adebo’s birth offers a very sharp contrast. He tells directly to youth-centered policies: talk about digital jobs, education reform, innovation hubs, and that sustainable governance. He knows modern political language, tech inclusion, climate awareness, and the decentralization. However, beyond this laurels lies the hard truth, he has never contested a state-wide election, and the politics in Oyo State is not won by Social media engagement or regular conference appearances. It’s fought and won from door to door, in villages, markets, churches mosques, palaces, and places of “high strongholds”.
Again, Ogundoyin should also know that Oyo State’s political history has long favoured Ibadan candidates. Since the return to democracy in 1999, five of Oyo’s six governors have hailed from Ibadan: Lam Adesina, Rashidi Ladoja, Adebayo Alao-Akala (from Ogbomoso), Abiola Ajimobi (Ibadan), and Seyi Makinde (Ibadan). Even if Ibarapa falls within Oyo South Senatorial District, it has often been perceived as a “junior partner” in regional politics. Many in the Ibadan bloc may resist that ceding power to someone they view as an outsider. Now with Oke-Ogun and Oyo Central now clamouring for a turn, Adebo faces the regular zoning dilemma: can he unite the South while reaching across to other zones?
Furthermore, if Ogundoyin’s influence within the Assembly and Ibarapa is clear, can we also say he possess the same identity in Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun, and the deeper flanks of Ibadan? Legislative success won’t automatically translate to electoral advantage. He’ll need to build and maintain a statewide network of loyal and well-fed coordinators, grassroots legitimate mobilizers, unflinching financiers, and vote-canvassers. Oyo elections are very tough, very expensive, and strongly rooted in long-standing structures. Without a strong political war chest and boots on the ground, this ambition may stall.
Also, the internal and inevitable PDP politics is yet another hurdle. The party is home to very strong figures like Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, technocrat-turned-politician Joseph Tegbe, grassroots-endorsed Shina Peller, new boy Beulah Adeoye, and many others with ambition, war chests, and stronger party roots. These powerful figures may not easily concede the 2027 ticket. Yet, despite Adebo’s close working relationship with Governor Seyi Makinde, endorsement is not guaranteed, and even if Makinde does back him, it remains to be seen whether the wider party power bloc would fall in line. Would they support him as a future leader, or seek to “manage” him as a younger pawn in a deeper tricky power game?
Now, this brings us to the elephant in the room: money. Everyone knows that campaigns in Oyo are not just about oratory and legacy, Oyo people don’t really care, they’re about logistics, structure, and serious funding. Can Adebo fund a state-wide campaign on his own? Or would he need to lean on political financiers and godfathers? And if he does, can he sustain his independence in office, or would he be forced to govern on that borrowed loyalty?
True, as a young politician that he is, there’s also the possibility of a godfather adoption. Should Adebo align with established political figures to secure the ticket or attempt a “disruptive”, independent path? Names like Adebisi Olopoeyan, Hazeem Gbolarumi, Monsurat Sumonu, Baba Ladoja, or even external PDP national figures could become power brokers. But the risk is real: aligning with powerful mentors can open doors, but it can also lock one into that irreconcilable political debt.
And finally, there’s the age question. In this gerontocratic political culture like Nigeria’s, youthfulness is often seen as a liability, not an asset. Elders may fear a young leader could be overwhelmed or manipulated. Can Ogundoyin allay those fears and project the image of a mature hand? Or will the narrative of “Not Yet Ready” stick, despite his accomplishments? Still, the big question remains: is Adebo Ogundoyin ready for governance?
Yet again, leadership at the executive level demands more than charisma. It calls for a tested vision, deep understanding of political frameworks, emotional intelligence, and the ability to manage institutions under unexpected pressure. The next governor of Oyo must maintain Makinde’s momentum in infrastructure, deepen IGR without overtaxing citizens, reform education, or even expand access to healthcare, and tame the popular dragon of youth unemployment. Does Adebo have a blueprint, or is he still waiting for the call?
Finally, Adebo Ogundoyin is no longer that political experiment of 2019; he is a serious proposition. His legislative track record, symbolic strength, and growing national relevance are quite undeniable. Yet, the journey from Speaker to Governor requires more than mere credentials. It requires coalition-building, strategic partnerships, and financial readiness. In a political environment craving renewal or change, he might just be the that gamble Oyo needs, but only if he can meet the moment.
Now, will he rise from the Speaker’s seat to the Governor’s office? Will Oyo people embrace youth and change, or return to tradition and familiarity? Will the son of Eruwa become the face of a new political chapter, or remain an unfinished political story? What Do You Think?
Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun writes for Oyo Affairs
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