By Charles Chijioke
Beulah Adeoye has obtained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expression of interest form for the Oyo state governorship race, formally signalling his entry into the contest ahead of the next election cycle.
Adeoye picked up the form on Thursday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, coming just hours after a Supreme Court decision nullified the party’s Ibadan convention — a ruling that has further unsettled the PDP’s internal structure.
He becomes the first aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo to take a concrete step toward the governorship bid despite the lingering leadership crisis triggered by the court judgement.
The aspirant said his ambition is anchored on his “Igba-Otun” agenda, which he described as a roadmap focused on industrialisation, improved security, healthcare delivery, education, agro-industrial expansion, and rural enterprise development.
According to his camp, the move underscores a “sustained commitment” to reposition Oyo for inclusive growth, with supporters portraying him as a consensus builder capable of uniting factions within the party.
Adeoye recently held a closed-door meeting with Hazeem Gbolarumi, a former deputy governor and key PDP stakeholder in Oyo, where he stressed the urgency of unity among party leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
He maintained that “inclusive leadership, grassroots development and party progress are critical to maintaining relevance,” especially as the PDP seeks to recover from internal divisions and legal setbacks.
The development comes at a delicate moment for the party, as the fallout from the Supreme Court ruling has raised questions about leadership legitimacy and organisational stability. Analysts say early moves by aspirants like Adeoye could reshape alignments within the party in Oyo and influence its preparedness for the governorship contest.
If the internal crisis persists, it could weaken the PDP’s electoral chances in the state, while a successful reconciliation effort may position the party for a competitive outing in the next election cycle.
