The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State has replaced Michael Okunlade with Mogaji Agboola as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, declaring that its ticket is not available for political negotiation.
Agboola emerged as the party’s new standard-bearer at a substitution plenary held in Ibadan on Tuesday, where the party formally ratified the change.
Speaking after his emergence, Agboola said the SDP was not preparing for the election as a bargaining platform, but was determined to win the governorship and offer what he described as a new approach to governance in Oyo State.
“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 the party intended to move away from what he called “pedestrian thinking” and embrace system-based approaches to governance.
He said Oyo State could no longer rely on conventional methods of administration at a time when societies were rapidly changing.
“The last time we declared our intent, we said pedestrian thinking has to stop and system-based thinking should now be the case. We should stop business as usual and bring new ideas to the table,” Agboola said.
According to him, human development would be central to his administration if elected, with emphasis on creating systems that could convert the state’s human and material resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
He argued that Oyo could not continue primarily serving as a resource centre for others while its residents struggled to maximise their skills and available resources.
Agboola said his administration would therefore seek to create opportunities for residents to develop relevant skills and use their abilities and resources to contribute meaningfully to the state’s economy.
The new SDP candidate also made it clear that he would not consider negotiations that could turn the party’s governorship ticket into a political bargaining instrument ahead of the election.
“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,” he said.
Agboola added that the party intended to seek victory on its own merit, rather than enter into political arrangements with other contenders.
He also challenged other governorship candidates to publicly debate their policy proposals, signalling his willingness to subject the SDP’s ideas and proposed solutions to public scrutiny.
Beyond the election, Agboola said his immediate task would include reconciling members who may have become dissatisfied with developments within the party.
He promised an open-door approach and called on aggrieved members to return to the party.
“Anyone that is aggrieved out there, the door is open. Come back home. SDP is the home of true democrats, true progressives,” he said.
The party also charged Agboola with the responsibility of uniting its members, strengthening its structures and taking its campaign message to all 33 local government areas of Oyo State.
The substitution marks a new phase in the SDP’s preparations for the 2027 governorship contest, with the party leadership saying its ambition goes beyond merely participating in the election to building the political strength necessary to win power.
Okunlade, whose name was replaced on the ticket, congratulated Agboola and described his emergence as an important milestone for the party.
He commended SDP members for what he described as their maturity and peaceful conduct during the substitution process, while also appreciating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for monitoring the exercise.
Okunlade urged Agboola to remain committed to the party and work towards victory in 2027.
He identified increased visibility and grassroots mobilisation across the state’s 33 local government areas and wards as immediate priorities.
“We want victory, not negotiation. We want commitment, not abandonment. We want unity, not division,” Okunlade said.
He cautioned against situations where candidates use a political party’s platform to contest elections before subsequently distancing themselves from its structures and membership.
According to him, the SDP’s prospects in 2027 would depend significantly on unity, commitment and effective mobilisation at the grassroots.
Okunlade also responded to allegations made by another governorship aspirant concerning the substitution process and his integrity.
He said he would pursue legal action if any of the statements made against him amounted to defamation, while urging party members and aspirants to accept the outcome of the democratic process.
He advised those with grievances to use appropriate democratic and legal channels instead of allowing internal disagreements to weaken the party ahead of the 2027 election.
