Hon. Samuel Adejumobi, popularly known as Agbarapo, has said the people of Oyo State are no longer choosing blindly at the polls, having experienced governance under both the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress.
Agbarapo, a former Majority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly and current Special Adviser on Legislative Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, said the political decision before the state is now a clear one: sustained development built on consistency and accountability, or a return to what he described as a government driven by false propaganda.
Speaking on the evolving political climate ahead of the 2027 general elections in his new year message obtained by westernmirror.com.ng on Friday, Agbarapo said Oyo’s recent history offers a clear basis for comparison.
He noted that the state has lived through different leadership styles and policy directions under the two major parties and the people, having experienced inclusive governance under Makinde, can no longer be confused by lies and deceptions.
According to him, the Makinde-led PDP administration has focused on steady growth, institutional stability and people-oriented governance, in contrast to what he claimed were periods characterized by noise, political distractions and weak delivery under APC rule.
He said the relative calm and economic stability in the state today should not be mistaken for an accident, warning that 2026 would be a politically charged year that would require vigilance from those committed to protecting the state’s development trajectory.
In his words, “2026 is a political year and all hands must be on deck. There will be no more silence in the face of deliberate blackmail and attempts to distract this government from its focus.”
Agbarapo accused opposition figures of engaging in propaganda and narrative manipulation as a strategy to regain relevance, adding that such efforts would be challenged with facts and uninterrupted records of Makinde’s performance.
The former Oke-ogun born lawmaker, who is also an aspirant for the Oyo governorship seat in 2027, said the coming political contest should be about ideas, capacity and track records, not slogans or misinformation.
He urged residents of the state to remain politically conscious of everything happening at the national level under the APC led federal government and to assess parties and candidates based on their ability to deliver sustainable development in the 2027 guber race.
“Oyo people have seen both sides, in fact, they’re also seeing the impact of running government under false propaganda at the national level.
“The choice before them now is whether to continue on a path of sustainable development that governor Makinde has proven to be possible even in the face of a harsh economic reality and endless policy somersaults or go back to a government built on false hope and propaganda,” he said.
Agbarapo reaffirmed that the PDP remains committed to consolidating the gains recorded under Governor Makinde and ensuring that governance in the state remains predictable, inclusive and development-focused beyond 2027.