Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, the former Chief of Staff to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, turned up at the unveiling of Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s governorship manifesto on Tuesday. The Nigerian Affairs Journal broke the news on X and posted a video from the event. Consequently, the appearance has drawn fresh attention to his recent exit from the Makinde administration.
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BREAKING: Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, former Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, who recently resigned his position, is currently attending the unveiling of Oyo State APC governorship candidate Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s manifesto. https://t.co/xcO0vCeHfK
— Nigerian Affairs Journal (@NigAffairs) November 3, 2026
Ogunwuyi resigned on Monday, October 12, 2026. His letter stated that the resignation took effect on the date of the letter. He had held the Chief of Staff post since July 2021. Before that, he served as Executive Assistant on Investment to Makinde and as Director-General of the Oyo State Investment and Public-Private Partnership Agency. Earlier in his career, he sat in both the Oyo State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives.
News of his resignation set off immediate speculation. Several outlets linked his exit to a possible move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections. However, those reports described the move as speculation, and the coverage reviewed does not show Ogunwuyi confirming any defection. Moreover, he was not the only aide to leave. Other political appointees quit the government within weeks, and the Director-General of the Due Process Office, Tara Adefope, stepped down as well.
Makinde reacted quickly. He appointed Bashorun Akinwole, popularly known as Wolekanle, as the new Chief of Staff and named Aderonke Adedayo as Director-General of the Due Process Office. Furthermore, he urged the new appointees to serve with “loyalty, commitment, and dedication to the service of Oyo State.”
Meanwhile, Alli presented his blueprint, titled Oyo AHEAD and also styled Itayo Oyo. His campaign organisation said he would walk stakeholders through the plan sector by sector. Campaign media director Bisi Oladele described it as “a practical, people-centred roadmap” meant to restore the state’s pace-setting status. Notably, Alli represents Oyo South in the Senate and holds the title of Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland. The APC unveiled him as its governorship candidate in July, with Adesoji Adedeji as his running mate.
The event adds another layer to a tense political season in Oyo. Makinde belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is serving his second term as governor. He now stands as the Allied Peoples Movement’s presidential candidate, and the party says it will unveil its own manifesto on November 4. Therefore, both camps are laying out their cases to voters within days of each other.
Tensions have already surfaced between the two sides. In August, the Oyo government accused federal officials of excluding Makinde from a federal road project launch, which Alli attended. The state’s information commissioner said the decision was hard to separate from the political contest ahead of 2027. Earlier in the year, Alli accused the governor of wasting N1.5 billion on a ceremonial installation of three Ibadan chiefs.
For now, Ogunwuyi’s attendance raises more questions than it answers. Supporters of both camps will watch his next move closely. Meanwhile, the video from the event is circulating online, and further details should emerge as the 2027 campaign gathers pace.
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