Ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general elections, key stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have settled for a consensus approach in selecting candidates across parts of Oyo North Senatorial District.
The exercise, which took place at the Oyo State Local Government Service Training Hall, Secretariat, Ibadan, yesterday, formed a platform for the emergence of Oyo PDP candidates through consensus.
The development followed a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held on Thursday in Ibadan, where party leaders, including Governor Seyi Makinde, the state PDP chairman, and influential figures from the Oke-Ogun axis, deliberated on strategies to strengthen the party’s position ahead of the polls.
Party insiders said the adoption of consensus candidates is a deliberate move to avoid internal disputes, promote cohesion, and present a united front capable of consolidating the PDP’s electoral advantage in the region.
Senatorial District
For Oyo North Senatorial District, stakeholders rallied behind Shina Peller, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency. Peller is businessman, who hails from Iseyin and previously contested the senatorial seat under the Accord Party before aligning with the PDP.
Federal Constituencies
In the federal constituencies, the following candidates emerged:
Iseyin/Iwajowa/Kajola/Itesiwaju Federal Constituency: Oyedeji Oyeshina, the incumbent lawmaker, secured the nod for a second term.
Irepo/Olorunsogo/Oorelope Federal Constituency: Abiodun Oni, Director-General of the Oyo State Mineral Development Agency and a long-time associate of Governor Makinde, was selected. Oni is also a former Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources.
Saki East/Saki West/Atisbo Federal Constituency: Niyi Adebisi, the state Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, also emerged as the preferred candidate.
State Constituencies
At the state assembly level, consensus candidates were equally identified across key constituencies:
Ogbomoso South State Constituency: Sanjo Adedoyin, the current Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly.
Irepo/Olorunsogo State Constituency: Ayinde Sarafadeen Sassay, a businessman and local legislative leader.
Oorelope State Constituency: Jimoh Adisa Olabisi, a community leader and longstanding party supporter from Igboho.
Saki West State Constituency: Salaudeen Kabeer Adebayo, a councillor and Majority Leader of the Saki West Legislative Council, recognised for youth-focused initiatives through his humanitarian efforts.
Ogbomoso South State Constituency: Bisi Oluranti, the incumbent lawmaker known for her advocacy on women inclusion and social welfare, also retained party backing.
Sources within the party hinted that further consultations are ongoing, with additional names to complete the remainder of other federal and state constituencies under Oyo North Senatorial District, are expected to be confirmed in the coming days as the PDP fine-tunes its electoral strategy across the state.
The consensus arrangement, insiders note, reflects an early attempt by the ruling party in Oyo State to minimise pre-election tensions while positioning itself for a competitive outing in 2027.