Three key appointees of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde have resigned from their positions, adding to a growing list of officials who have left the state government ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest departures involve the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Ayobami Ojo; Special Adviser on Budget and Economic Planning, Adegbola Oyeleke; and a member of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Sunday Falana.
According to a report by The PUNCH, the three officials submitted their resignation letters on Monday, with their decisions taking immediate effect.
Ojo, who hails from Ago-Are in Atisbo Local Government Area, communicated his decision in a letter addressed to Makinde through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde.
Referencing his appointment letter dated June 22, 2026, the former commissioner did not disclose his reason for leaving the administration but expressed appreciation to the governor for the opportunity to serve.
Similarly, Oyeleke, a former two-term member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and former council chairman, resigned as Special Adviser on Budget and Economic Planning.
In his resignation letter dated November 2, 2026, and addressed directly to the governor, Oyeleke cited dissatisfaction with the working environment in the administration.
He explained that the prevailing circumstances had made it difficult for him to effectively pursue and fulfil the aspirations of his people while serving in government.
However, he thanked Makinde for his leadership, encouragement and support, as well as the opportunity to contribute to the administration’s policies and development programmes.
Falana, who hails from Ogbomoso, also announced his resignation as a member of OYSIEC in a letter dated November 2 and addressed to the governor through the Chief of Staff.
He did not disclose the reason for his departure but described his experience serving on the electoral management body as worthwhile.
APM Dismisses Concerns Over Political Impact
Reacting to the latest developments, Yinka Oladoyinbo, Director-General of Media and Publicity of the Bimbo Adekanmbi Campaign Council, dismissed suggestions that the resignations would affect the electoral chances of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Speaking with The PUNCH in Ibadan, Oladoyinbo maintained that the 2027 governorship election would ultimately be decided by the people of Oyo State rather than politicians.
He described the movement of politicians between political parties as a normal feature of the political process, likening it to a football transfer market.
According to him, while some politicians might leave the APM, others were joining the party, adding that the movement of political figures would not negatively affect its chances in the next general elections.
More Officials Leave Makinde’s Administration
The latest resignations come after several other prominent officials departed from the Makinde administration in recent months.
Among them are former Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, who resigned in October after more than five years in office, and former Director-General of the state’s Due Process Office, Tara Adefope.
Following their departures, Makinde appointed Akinwole Akinwole as Chief of Staff and Aderonke Adedayo as Director-General of the Due Process Office.
Other former appointees include former Commissioner of Police and Special Adviser on Security, Fatai Owoseni; former member of the state Advisory Council, Babatunde Oduyoye; and former Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, Funmi Arulogun.
Also on the list are former Chairman of the Governing Board of the College of Agriculture, Igboora, Damilare Gideon Amusan, and former lawmaker Peter Oyetunji.
Four other appointees, Joshua Olusola Afolabi, Rebecca Oladoja Agbejimi, Noah Adeyanju and Suleiman Adegbola, reportedly resigned on October 19.
In another development, Ogbomoso North Local Government Chairman, Jimoh Idowu, resigned his membership of the APM.
Idowu announced his decision in a letter to the party’s executives in the local government on Monday, while promising to hand over party documents, assets and records to the appropriate authorities.
The developments come as OYSIEC prepares for the December 29, 2026 local government elections across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas.
The commission released its final list of candidates on October 27.
