By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, has declared that he has no preferred candidate among those seeking to become governor of Oyo State in the 2027 election.
Ladoja, a former governor of the state, stated this on Monday when he received the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Hazeem Gbolarumi, at his palace in Ibadan.
Gbolarumi, a former deputy governor of the state, was accompanied by the PDP state chairman, Prof. Abdulrahman Akinoso, state secretary Dr Biola Olanipekun and other party leaders.
The delegation visited the traditional ruler to seek his royal blessing ahead of the party’s campaign activities for the 2027 general elections.
Gbolarumi said he was the first governorship candidate to visit the Olubadan to seek his blessing and recalled Ladoja’s role in the establishment of the PDP in Oyo State in 1998.
He said, “I am here to seek the royal blessing from the Olubadan. No one has come here. I am the first person to come here.”
Akinoso said the party considered it important to meet the traditional ruler before commencing its campaign activities across the state.
Responding to the delegation, Ladoja said he would not endorse any candidate as his personal choice, stressing that all those seeking the governorship were connected to the traditional institution.
“I want you to know that all the candidates are from the same house. I have no anointed candidate. All of you are from the same house. All the gubernatorial candidates are from my house. You are children of the Olubadan,” he said.
The monarch urged the candidates and their supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully and leave the outcome of the election to God.
He also warned against political violence, stressing that political opponents could become allies in the future.
“Do not engage in violence. Your enemy today can be your best friend tomorrow,” Ladoja said.
He prayed for the success of all the candidates in their political endeavours.
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