Who Should Succeed Seyi Makinde in 2027? Series 8: Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi

Here at Oyo Affairs, we’re not just watching the countdown to 2027, we’re breaking it down. The race to Agodi Government House is no longer a hypothetical whisper; it’s growing into a wide contest of ideologies, loyalties, zones, and strategies. As always, our goal is to connect you, the people, with the men and women whose names may soon appear on the ballot. Among the surfacing names, one that deserves serious attention is Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, a name not always in headlines, but rootly etched in the power orbits of Oyo State.

Now, as Oyo edges closer to its next gubernatorial decision, the political landmark is becoming more meaningful, and the consequential players more obvious. In this tangled puzzle of power, Ogunwuyi does not make his emergence felt through media theatrics, but through silent influence and institutional control. Currently serving as the Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, he works not as that ceremonial figure, but as a cardinal tactician behind the curtain of many of the administration’s strategic policies.

Not in Ibadan, but born and bred in Ogbomoso, Ogunwuyi’s rise has been intentional. An alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University with both BSc and MBA degrees in Accounting and Business Administration, he carries a rare combination of technocratic acuity and political experience. He’s a certified accountant and financial consultant, skills that have directed his governance style, precise, resourceful, and development-focused. He is currently pursuing a PhD, an evidence to his belief in continuous self-improvement and academic grounding.

Before politics called, Ogunwuyi had already carved that impressive career path in the private sector. He worked with familiar and reputable multinational firms including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Baker Hughes, Nokia Siemens Networks, and TNT Express, serving in roles such as Finance Manager and SAP Consultant. This corporate background lends him the edge in governance, fusing public service with a results-driven business mindset.

Ogunwuyi’s political journey began in 2011 at the Oyo State House of Assembly. In 2015, he moved to the House of Representatives to represent Ogbomoso North, South, and Oriire Federal Constituency. Upon the arrival of Governor Makinde, he became Executive Assistant on Investment, and later the Director-General of the Oyo State Investment and Public-Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPA), where he initiated the celebrated Alternative Project Funding Approach, a policy model that is now referenced beyond Oyo borders.

However, his biggest leap came when he was appointed Chief of Staff in Makinde’s administration on July 5, 2021—a role he still holds to this day. In this role, Ogunwuyi has not only engineered the governor’s schedule but has played an important role in policy formation, political negotiations, and internal party unity. He’s seen as the stabilizer in the Makinde inner circle, someone who speaks less but delivers more. The trust he enjoys within the administration cannot be hyped-up, and his loyalty to Makinde has made him a natural potential in any succession consideration.

Again, his influence in Ogbomoso and the larger Oyo North is also not fully. Ogunwuyi has spent the past few years polarizing the PDP in the region, healing internal divisions, reconciling with old rivals, and enlarging the party’s base. With the roaring agitation for a power shift to Oyo North, his candidacy quenches both political equity and strategic balance. He’s perhaps the most methodical and sampled aspirant from that region.

Yet, with all these good-looking credentials, Ogunwuyi battles a number of defining problems. First is his intimacy to the current administration. While this gives him access to the state’s political framework, it could also be a debit. In a time when partition of the voters may be seeking radical departure from the current order, Ogunwuyi may be drawn as a continuation of Makinde’s rule. This puts him in a position where he must creatively arrange his vision, not as a ringer of his principal, but as a progressive growth that refines what’s working and reforms what isn’t.

Secondly, while his name echoes loudly in some government circles, he still needs to work on wider name recognition among the voters, especially in Ibadan, the powerhouse and other non-Ogbomoso zones. Unlike others who have built public personas through a gallery of flamboyant media appearances, Ogunwuyi has stayed low behind the curtain. Now, he must step into the spotlight, not just as a regular strategist, but as an ambitious leader with an attractive story. He needs to plant the emotional connection with voters. Competence is respected; charisma is elected.

Does he have the financial war chest to run after this dream if it truly exists? Politics in Nigeria is expensive. Oyo elections are won not just with common ideas but with ground infrastructure, logistics, media, and loud ward-level mobilization. Ogunwuyi, by nature, is not flashy, but his years in federal office, investment roles, and access to top Oyo political actors suggest he has both personal and institutional capacity to raise the necessary funds. His close relationship with Governor Makinde could unlock additional financial backing, especially if he is seen as the continuity candidate. But financing a statewide campaign requires more than proximity, it demands financial strategy, coalition building, and external investors confidence.

Can his loyalty translate into real power? Loyalty is a “premium currency” in politics, and Ogunwuyi has traded it politically. His unflinching support for Makinde has earned him trust in the PDP hierarchy. If the governor decides to anoint a successor, Ogunwuyi stands close to the front line. However, loyalty alone isn’t enough, it must be matched by grassroots recognition, internal party consensus, and elite endorsement. The real test is whether that loyalty can mobilize not just endorsement from power brokers, but genuine votes from Oyo people.

Should he have been tested again at the federal or senatorial level before aspiring to be governor? That’s a fair question. Yes, Ogunwuyi has legislative experience and executive exposure, but he hasn’t held a statewide elected position like Senator or Deputy Governor. His critics may argue he needs more electoral test before seeking the highest seat. However, the counterargument is strong: he has been part of policy creation, investment strategy, and political frameworking in Oyo for years. His experience cuts across both legislative and executive arms, something not many potential contenders can boast.

Also, could he become the first non-Ibadan governor since Alao-Akala? Yes, and that’s one of the strongest factors in his favour. Since the late Alao-Akala, no other non-Ibadan candidate has ruled Oyo. With rising agitation for zoning justice, especially from Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso, Ogunwuyi represents that unifying northern choice. His personality, calm, calculated, and consensus-seeking makes him good across zones. If the Ibadan political warlords decide to sacrifice for regional equity, Ogunwuyi could be the preferred “outsider” with an insider’s knowledge.

Then again, there’s the youth question.Within the PDP, there’s growing hunger among younger politicians to push for generational change. Ogunwuyi, though not old, is seen as a product of the Makinde era. If he wants to remain relevant to this rising base, he must deliberately absorb younger voices, push innovative policy thinking, and avoid being perceived as the political status quo dressed in a new suit.

In all of this, one thing is clear: Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi is not just potentially in the race; he is implanted in the system. Whether the PDP chooses to conduct an open primary or pursue a consensus model, he is one of the few names that commands institutional respect, administrative experience, and regional clout. Yes, he may not come with the noise of newcomers or the desperation of serial contestants, but his strategy, loyalty, and quiet influence could be his biggest weapons. The clock is ticking. The zone is watching. The party is weighing its options. Can the strategic insider step out of the shadows, and become the people’s candidate?

See below other 7 articles on who should succeed Seyi Makinde

• Engr Dotun Sanusi
• Adebo Ogundoyin
• Chief Bayo Adelabu 
• Oluseun Onigbinde
• Akin Alabi
• Beulah Adeoye
• Bolanle Aminat Sarumi

Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun writes for Oyo Affairs