Former Oyo Deputy Governor Hazeem Gbolarumi Wins PDP Governorship Primary In Landslide Victory

Former Oyo Deputy Governor Hazeem Gbolarumi wins PDP governorship primary in landslide victory Former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Hazeem Gbolarumi, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party PDP governorship candidate in the state following a landslide victory in the party’s primary election held ahead of the 2027 general elections. Gbolarumi secured a commanding win in the exercise, polling 3,615 votes to defeat his closest rival, Barrister Beulah Adeoye, who scored 22 votes, in a contest described by party officials as peaceful, transparent, and largely hitch-free. The primary election was conducted across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State, with more than 3,600 accredited delegates participating in the process under tight security and the supervision of party leaders and election observers. The collation of results took place at the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ Secretariat in Ibadan, where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and security agencies were also present to monitor proceedings. Announcing the outcome, the Chairman of the PDP Governorship Primary Election Committee in Oyo State, Hon. Tolulope Awoniyi, confirmed that a total of 3,640 delegates were accredited for the exercise. He declared Gbolarumi winner after confirming that he had secured an overwhelming majority of the votes cast, describing the process as orderly and reflective of internal democracy within the party.In his acceptance speech, Gbolarumi expressed appreciation to party delegates, leaders, and supporters across the state for the mandate, pledging to unite the party ahead of the 2027 governorship election. He said the victory was not personal but a collective decision of PDP members who desire progress, inclusiveness, and stronger governance in Oyo State. “I am confident that by the grace of God, our party will emerge victorious in the 2027 governorship election,” he said, while calling for reconciliation among aggrieved members to strengthen the party’s chances at the polls. Party leaders who supervised the exercise also urged unity among stakeholders, noting that the PDP must remain cohesive to consolidate its political strength in Oyo State. They stressed that internal disagreements should be resolved quickly in the interest of the party’s electoral success in the forthcoming general elections. Gbolarumi, a former deputy governor who served between 2007 and 2011, has remained a prominent figure in Oyo State politics, with long-standing involvement in grassroots mobilisation and party organisation.

His emergence as the PDP governorship candidate sets the stage for what is expected to be a competitive political race in the build-up to the 2027 elections.