The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State has replaced its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, choosing Mogaji Olusegun Agboola to fly the party’s flag as it seeks to challenge the major political parties for control of the state.

The substitution was ratified at the party’s substitution plenary held in Ibadan on Tuesday, where Agboola replaced Mr Michael Okunlade on the governorship ticket.

The party tasked the new candidate with uniting its members, strengthening its structures and expanding its presence across all 33 local government areas of the state ahead of the election.

Speaking to journalists after his emergence, Agboola said the SDP was not seeking the governorship ticket as a bargaining tool but was determined to win the 2027 election.

He said the party intended to move Oyo State away from what he described as conventional or “pedestrian thinking” towards a system-based approach to governance.

Agboola said his proposed administration would focus on developing the state’s human resources and creating systems that could turn the skills and resources of residents into sustainable economic opportunities.

He argued that Oyo State should not continue serving primarily as a resource centre for others, stressing the need for policies that would equip residents with relevant skills and enable them to contribute more effectively to the state’s economy.

The SDP candidate also rejected the possibility of negotiating or trading the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the election.

He said the party was determined to take control of the state and expressed confidence in its chances based on what he described as the antecedents of candidates fielded by other political parties.

Agboola also challenged other governorship contenders to a public debate on their policies and proposed solutions, saying he was prepared to subject the SDP’s ideas to public scrutiny.

On internal disagreements, he promised to operate an open-door administration and urged aggrieved members to return to the party.

Earlier, Okunlade, whose name was removed from the ticket, congratulated Agboola and described his emergence as an important development for the SDP.

He praised party members for maintaining peace and maturity throughout the substitution process and commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for monitoring the exercise.

Okunlade said the party’s immediate priority should be expanding its visibility and activities across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas and wards.

He urged Agboola to remain committed to the SDP and work towards securing victory in the 2027 election.

Okunlade also cautioned against a situation where candidates use political parties as platforms to contest elections before distancing themselves from the parties’ structures and members.

He maintained that unity, commitment and effective grassroots mobilisation would be critical to the SDP’s chances of winning the election.

Addressing allegations made by another governorship aspirant, Chief Saheed Oladele, concerning the substitution process and his integrity, Okunlade said he would pursue legal action if any statements against him amounted to defamation.

He urged party members and aspirants to resolve disagreements through democratic and legal channels rather than allowing internal disputes to weaken the party.

The SDP leadership subsequently charged Agboola with consolidating its structures, reconciling aggrieved members and taking the party’s message to communities across the state ahead of the 2027 governorship election.