The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Mogaji Olusegun Agboola, has declared his determination to contest and win the 2027 governorship election, assuring party members and supporters that he will not abandon the race at the last minute.
Agboola, who made the declaration while featuring on the Situation Room programme anchored by popular broadcaster Isaac Brown on Fresh FM 109.5, said his ambition was driven by a desire to provide an alternative to what he described as the prevailing political order in the state.
He said he was not contesting merely to participate in the election, stressing that he was determined to remain in the race and give voters a credible alternative.
Agboola’s comments appeared to reference the decision of the SDP’s 2023 governorship candidate, Barrister Michael Lana, who withdrew from the race shortly before the election and endorsed the re-election bid of Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Lana had, at the time, called on his supporters to vote for Makinde, citing what he described as the governor’s progressive governance and welfare programmes.
However, Agboola said he would not repeat such a move, assuring SDP members that he remained committed to the party and its platform.
“I am contesting this election, and I will not abandon the party or the members at any time,” he said, adding that his ambition was to represent the interests of what he described as the “voice of the voiceless.”
The SDP candidate also acknowledged the efforts of the party’s leader, Alhaji Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, and the state chairman, Hon. Michael Okunlola, in sustaining the party and promoting unity among its members.
On campaign financing, Agboola said his campaign would rely substantially on contributions and support from individuals who shared his vision of good governance and opposed what he described as “moneybag politics.”
He disclosed that a campaign website had been launched where members of the public could access his manifesto and register as volunteers.
According to him, individual contributions, regardless of their size, would contribute to the financing of the campaign, stressing that no governorship candidate could single-handedly fund a modern political campaign.
Agboola said he therefore welcomed citizens willing to volunteer their time, resources and expertise towards the campaign.
On education, the SDP candidate expressed concern over what he described as the declining standard of education in Oyo State compared with other states, particularly in the South-West.
He promised that, if elected, his administration would introduce a modern governance framework aimed at improving the state’s education system and bringing it in line with contemporary global standards.
Agboola also criticised what he described as the lack of accurate and comprehensive data for government planning in Oyo State.
He argued that the absence of reliable data could lead to inefficient allocation of resources, poor planning and weak accountability.
He promised that his administration would make data-driven governance a central component of its policy framework, including the comprehensive capture of residents across the state.
According to him, accurate population and demographic data would enable government to plan effectively, prepare realistic budgets, identify areas of need and execute projects based on verifiable requirements.
Speaking on agriculture, Agboola said Oyo State had significant agricultural potential but had yet to fully translate its investments in the sector into increased food production.
He alleged that despite the substantial resources committed to agriculture, the state had not achieved the level of food production expected from its agricultural endowment.
The SDP candidate pledged to prioritise agriculture and ensure that investments in the sector produced measurable benefits for farmers, consumers and the wider economy if elected governor in 2027.
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