The Oyo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has replaced its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, with Mogaji Agboola emerging as the party’s new standard-bearer.
The change was ratified at the party’s substitution plenary held in Ibadan on Tuesday, where Agboola replaced Mr Michael Okunlade.
The party charged the new candidate with uniting members, strengthening its structures and taking its campaign message to the 33 local government areas of the state.
Speaking after his emergence, Agboola said the SDP was not participating in the election for political bargaining but was determined to win and introduce a new approach to governance.
The SDP is not in the race for political bargaining. It is determined to win the governorship election and to introduce a new approach to governance in the state,” he said.
Agboola said his administration would replace what he called “pedestrian thinking” with system-based governance, prioritising human development and creating systems to turn Oyo’s human and material resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
He also ruled out negotiations over the party’s ticket, saying, “The ticket is not open to political negotiation ahead of the 2027 election. The SDP is here to stay, and our intention is to take over this state.”
The candidate also expressed readiness to debate other governorship contenders on their policies and promised an open-door approach to members who may have become aggrieved over developments in the party.
Earlier, Okunlade congratulated Agboola and described his emergence as an important milestone for the SDP. He commended members for their peaceful conduct and urged the new candidate to remain committed to the party.
“We want victory, not negotiation. We want commitment, not abandonment. We want unity, not division,” Okunlade said.
He urged members and aspirants to channel grievances through appropriate democratic and legal avenues, warning that division could undermine the party’s chances in the 2027 election.