OYO 2023: Between Makinde’s achievement and Folarin’s scorecard

Going by the final list released recently by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of candidates and political parties that will participate in the scheduled March 11, 2023 governorship election in Oyo State, 16 flag bearers and parties have been cleared and certified to participate in the contest. But among this figure, three are considered as being outstanding and who can make significant influence while two specifically are regarded as the major contenders. First is the incumbent governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who is running for second term on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his closest contender is candidate of major opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Teslim Folarin, who currently represents Oyo Central in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

But there is also the candidate of Accord Party, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor of Central Bank, who is also the candidate of APC in the 2019 governorship election in the state. Adelabu lost the 2019 gubernatorial poll to Makinde whereas he also lost the APC’s 2023 gubernatorial ticket to Folarin before he defected to take up Accord Party ticket.
 
The remaining 13 contenders are regarded as mere participants who are likely going to form alliances with any of the major parties – PDP or APC. A tour of all the secretariats and or party headquarters of these 13 political parties did not indicate any serious political activities ongoing, which could show they are really into the goverånorship race.
 
But the two major contenders, Makinde and Folarin are going to bank on three critical factors that will make any of them win or lose the race.. While Makinde will bank on his achievements in the last four years in office to solicit for votes among Oyo electorate, Folarin will project his scorecard as a 12 years senator representing Oyo Central to woo the voters to his side.