The Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, Dahud Makanjuola Akinola, has endorsed Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 Oyo State governorship election, while backing calls for a Muslim to succeed Governor Seyi Makinde.
Akinola based his position on what he described as an understanding reached between Muslim and Christian leaders in Oyo State ahead of the 2023 governorship election.
He spoke on Thursday at a special empowerment programme organised by the Asiwaju Musulumi of Oyo State, Mutiu Oladejo Azeez Onimalu, at his residence in Egbeda, Ibadan.
According to Akinola, religious leaders had supported Makinde’s bid for a second term in 2023 on the understanding that a popular Muslim candidate acceptable to both Muslims and Christians would be supported to succeed him in 2027.
He said Alli’s emergence as the APC governorship candidate was consistent with that reported understanding, describing the senator’s candidature as divinely ordained.
Akinola further claimed that Alli enjoys the backing of Muslims and Christians across the state and urged residents to support his ambition.
The claim of a prior understanding over a Muslim successor has also featured in Oyo’s emerging 2027 political debate.
In May, the Oyo Political Equity Forum accused Makinde of reneging on an alleged agreement said to have been reached at a meeting involving religious and political stakeholders before his re-election.
The state government had not officially responded to that allegation at the time.
Alli is the APC’s established candidate for the 2027 governorship contest.
APC leaders in the state endorsed him as their consensus candidate in May, while he formally received the party’s nomination form in July.
Akinola also commended Onimalu for his contributions to Islamic development and his philanthropic activities, saying his humanitarian efforts would be remembered.
Speaking earlier, Onimalu said his foundation was targeting the empowerment of at least 10,000 people, particularly unemployed graduates and widows, as part of efforts to cushion the impact of the current economic hardship.
He said the initiative was designed to help beneficiaries establish sustainable means of livelihood, become financially independent and reduce their dependence on relatives and acquaintances.
Onimalu also declared his support for Alli’s governorship bid and said he expected the APC candidate to emerge victorious in the 2027 election.
He urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other Christian organisations he said participated in the reported agreement to honour their commitment to support a Muslim candidate.
Onimalu consequently called on residents of Oyo State to support Alli and vote for him in the February 2027 governorship election.
