On January 17th, 2026, Oriyomi Hamzat made a big announcement at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State. Before the announcement that had attracted many comments and aftermath results for some party people who threw their weight behind him, he was known for his radio host of Kokoro Alate and for his work in community advocacy through Agidigbo 88.7 FM.
He declared he was running for governor under the Accord Party. For years, he had been at the forefront of grassroots advocacy, mediating conflicts and fighting for justice. Now, he was stepping into the political world himself.
Well, this shift from journalism to politics is not a new one. Figures like Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Lateef Jakande all made similar transitions. Journalism, for them, was a starting point.
It gave them a platform to call out injustices, but politics gave them the power to do something about it. So, what is it that drives journalists to step into the world of politics? Is it a desire for more influence, or simply a sense of duty to do more?
The Oriyomi governorship declaration reminded me of a press conference I attended where campus journalists who decided to run for a political post were asked why they decided to switch careers.
The question was subtle, From journalism to politics, what changed? One of the aspirants answered, journalism was effective, but politics would give him a better platform to make a real difference.
The other aspirant said that, while journalism allowed him to call attention to issues, it wasnโt enough, he felt he could do more as a politician. Their responses flitted towards the same underlying ideaโ journalism was good, effective, but limiting, whereas politics could be a tool to create real change.
After years of monitoring government actions, do we say he suddenly realized that he has limited power to make real change? For many, this frustration is the driving force.
Politicians hold the power to change policies, so the best way to truly influence their country might be to become one. Is that exactly what Oriyomi is trying to do? While we can’t rely solely on his “Oyo n pe O” campaign slogan to explain his motivations, it’s reasonable to think this move is his response to the people who believed in himโan answer to a call from the very community he has served through grassroots advocacy, journalism, and conflict resolution.
However, this transition comes with its challenges: how does a radio station owner maintain journalistic credibility while campaigning for governor? How does he report on his own race without showing bias? Running for office while managing a media outlet creates an obvious conflict of interest.
The truth is, Oriyomi needs to choose. He can’t hold the microphone and the megaphone at the same time without raising serious questions about fairness and integrity.
How he navigates this tension will say a lot, not just about his political ambitions, but about his commitment to the principles that made him a trusted voice in the first place. An attempt to straddle both worlds at once is risky, and many will be watching closely to see how he handles it.
Waris Hamzat is a content/creative writer, and a recent graduate of Library and Information Science at the University of Ibadan. He can be reached via Warishamzat61@gmail.com and @HamzatAbdulwarith on Facebook.
