The Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oyo State chapter, has replaced Michael Okunlade with Mogaji Olusegun Agboola as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, declaring that its ticket is not open to political negotiation.
The substitution was ratified at a plenary held in Ibadan on Tuesday, as the party intensified efforts to strengthen its structures and challenge the established political parties in the state.
The party charged Agboola with uniting its members, strengthening its structures and taking its message across the 33 local government areas ahead of the election.
The development formalised a process that had been underway since August, when Agboola was introduced to SDP leaders and members as the party’s intended governorship candidate.
Speaking with journalists after his emergence, Agboola said the SDP was not entering the 2027 contest to negotiate political deals but to win the governorship election 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,” Agboola said.
He said the party would replace what he described as “pedestrian thinking” with system-based thinking, arguing that Oyo State could no longer rely on conventional approaches to governance in a rapidly changing world.
“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,” he said.
Agboola said his administration, if elected, would prioritise human development and establish systems capable of turning the state’s human and material resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
He argued that Oyo could no longer afford to remain primarily a resource centre for others, stressing the need for policies that would equip residents with relevant skills and enable them to contribute meaningfully to the state’s economy.
The new SDP candidate also ruled out any possibility of the party’s governorship ticket being used as an instrument for political bargaining.
“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 secure the governorship on its own merit.
He also challenged other governorship contenders to a public debate on their policy proposals, saying the SDP was prepared to subject its ideas and proposed solutions to public scrutiny.
On reconciliation within the party, Agboola promised an open-door policy and urged dissatisfied members to return.
“Anyone that is aggrieved out there, the door is open. Come back home. SDP is the home of true democrats, true progressives,” he said.
Earlier, Okunlade, whose name was removed from the governorship ticket, congratulated Agboola and described his emergence as an important milestone for the party.
He commended members for their peaceful conduct during the substitution process and appreciated INEC and security agencies for monitoring the exercise.
Okunlade urged Agboola to remain committed to the party and work towards victory in 2027.
“We want victory, not negotiation. We want commitment, not abandonment. We want unity, not division,” he said.
He warned against candidates using party platforms to contest elections and later distancing themselves from the structures and members of those parties.
According to him, unity, commitment and effective grassroots mobilisation would be critical to the SDP’s chances in the 2027 election.
Okunlade also responded to allegations reportedly made by another governorship aspirant, Chief Saheed Oladele, concerning the substitution process and his integrity.
He said he would seek legal redress if statements made against him crossed the threshold of defamation, while urging members and aspirants with grievances to use appropriate democratic and legal channels.
The SDP leadership has now tasked Agboola with consolidating the party’s structures, reconciling aggrieved members and taking its campaign message to communities across Oyo State.
