The political temperature within the Oyo State chapter of the African People’s Movement (APM) appeared to rise another notch as the party’s leader in the state, Alhaji Olopoeniyan, was conspicuously absent at the opening of Governor Seyi Makinde’s campaign office in Abuja.
The absence is coming against the backdrop of the reported disagreement between Olopoeniyan and Governor Makinde, making his non-appearance at an event expected to project political unity particularly noteworthy.
Makinde, who has increasingly stepped into the national political arena ahead of the 2027 elections, was at the centre of the Abuja event as his supporters and political associates gathered to formally open the campaign office. Yet, one name that was notably missing was that of Olopoeniyan, a political figure whose relationship with the governor has recently come under scrutiny.
The development has consequently raised fresh questions about the state of the relationship between the two political actors. While neither side has publicly declared an outright political separation, the growing distance between them has continued to fuel speculation within political circles.
For Makinde, the timing could hardly be more delicate. With 2027 drawing closer, the governor is expected to consolidate his political structure beyond Oyo State. However, the absence of a prominent Oyo political ally at such a symbolic event does little to reinforce the picture of a united political camp.
As Makinde continues his 2027 political manoeuvres from Abuja, the question now is whether the absence of Olopoeniyan is simply a momentary development or another visible sign that the governor’s political house in Oyo may not be as united as his camp would want Nigerians to believe.
