Gov Makinde Announces Date to Reveal Successor

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has announced that he will reveal his preferred successor in January 2026. The governor made this known on Monday during the 11th Omituntun Ramadan lecture, held at the Government House arcade in Ibadan.

The lecture, titled “Benefits of Being a Good Neighbour: An Islamic Perspective,” was delivered by Yunus Olushina Teliat, the grand chief Imam of Ogbomoland. The event was attended by religious and political leaders, including former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

Speaking in Yoruba, Makinde expressed gratitude to Muslim leaders in the state for their continued support of his administration. He also called for more prayers as he nears the final stretch of his tenure.

The governor dismissed suggestions that he is now a “lame duck” and acknowledged that some individuals are already considering new political moves ahead of the next election. In a lighthearted moment, he addressed socialite Abbas Oloko, urging him not to take down a billboard at Isale Alfa. According to Makinde, the image of his preferred successor will be displayed there when the time comes.

“As we approach 2026, political activities will begin. I will tell you in January whose picture will be placed on that billboard,” he said.

Makinde, who has been in office since 2019, also used the occasion to call for peaceful coexistence among people of different religious backgrounds, urging Muslims to reflect on this during the Ramadan season.