Ogunwuyi, ex-Makinde chief of staff, attends Oyo APC candidate's manifesto event
- Segun Ogunwuyi resigned as Makinde's chief of staff on 12 October 2026.
- Days later, he attended the manifesto presentation of Oyo APC governorship candidate Senator Sharifadeen Alli.
- Ogunwuyi has not said whether he has joined the APC or backed Alli, though his presence has stirred speculation.
A former chief of staff to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, was in Ibadan on Tuesday for the manifesto presentation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli.
The appearance came a few days after Ogunwuyi left his post in the governor's cabinet. His resignation letter was dated 12 October 2026 and took effect the same day.
In that letter, he thanked Makinde for the chance to serve and said he was proud of what the administration had achieved. He did not give a reason for leaving.
Akinwale Akinwole, known as Wolekanle, has since taken over as chief of staff.
Why it matters in Oyo
Ogunwuyi has not said whether he has joined the APC or is backing Alli. Attending a candidate's event is not the same as endorsing him, and no public statement from Ogunwuyi ties him to the APC campaign.
Still, his presence at the event has set off talk of a split with Makinde. The APC is hoping to take Oyo in the 2027 governorship election, with Alli as its flag bearer.
The event was not the only change in Makinde's team. Ayobami Ojo, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, also resigned, according to reports.
Commissioner for Information Prince Dotun Oyelade said in a statement that Ojo's exit did not catch the governor off guard. He said Makinde had faced pressure before and held firm while others gave way.
Conscience is an open wound and only truth can heal it,
Oyelade said, according to the statement.
The Nation reported that other officials, including a commissioner and a member of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), have also left. The sources did not give a full list of those who resigned or say why they went.
What happens next
All eyes will be on Ogunwuyi's next move. If he formally joins the APC campaign, it would hand Alli a well-known figure from the governor's own circle. If he stays silent, the speculation may fade.
For now, Makinde's opponents have an opening, and his team is working to show that the departures do not weaken it ahead of 2027.
