Retired Commissioner of Police Fatai Ajani Owoseni has formally entered the 2027 Oyo State governorship race under the platform of the Accord Party, days after stepping down from his role as Special Adviser on Security to Governor Seyi Makinde.

Owoseni, who served concurrently as the Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF), announced his resignation in a letter dated May 7, 2026, addressed to the governor through the Office of the Chief of Staff. In the letter, the retired police commissioner stated that his exit took immediate effect, while expressing appreciation to Makinde for the opportunity to serve the people of the state.

His departure is widely seen as the clearest signal yet of his gubernatorial ambitions, with insiders having long indicated that a split from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was on the horizon.

The move to Accord follows a pattern familiar to Oyo politics the same party that gave former CBN Deputy Governor Adebayo Adelabu a platform in 2023 after he fell out with the APC ahead of that cycle’s governorship election.

Owoseni’s resignation came at a politically charged moment in Oyo. The PDP in the state has been rocked by internal strife, with multiple key figures including a federal lawmaker and a local government chairman defecting in recent weeks, all citing the party’s unresolved leadership crisis as their reason for leaving.

A native of Ibadan, Owoseni boasts a 35-year career in the Nigeria Police Force, having served as Commissioner of Police in both Lagos and Benue states. His tenure under Makinde gave him direct involvement in Oyo’s security architecture, including representation at the Forum of National and Subnational Security Officials (FONSSO) under the Office of the National Security Adviser, and a seat on the board of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, better known as Amotekun.

Speaking earlier on his motivations for running, Owoseni framed his candidacy around competence and continuity, saying that the question before Oyo voters in 2027 is not just who will lead the state, but who will add value to what Governor Makinde has built.

He argued that leadership must transcend religious, ethnic, and political divides, and described governance as a service to all, regardless of tribe or faith.

With his party platform now confirmed and the 2027 election cycle gathering steam, Owoseni’s entry into the Accord race is set to reshape the conversation around who succeeds Makinde adding a security-credentials-first candidacy to what is already shaping up to be a fiercely contested succession battle.