A civic advocacy group, Think Oyo First, has cautioned the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, against allowing the legislature to be used as a platform for political endorsements ahead of the 2027 governorship race.
The warning follows plans by market and trader associations across the state to convene an endorsement meeting in support of Ogundoyin’s potential gubernatorial ambition.
In a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Monday, the group expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of politicising state institutions, particularly the legislative arm, which it said should remain neutral and focused on governance.
According to Think Oyo First, the proposed endorsement, reportedly being coordinated by market leaders including Iyalojas and Babalojas across the 33 local government areas raises questions about the appropriate use of political influence and public office.
The group stressed that while individuals and associations have the constitutional right to support candidates of their choice, such activities must not compromise the integrity of democratic institutions.
“We urge the Speaker to resist any attempt to turn the Oyo State House of Assembly into an endorsement ground. The legislature must remain a symbol of democratic accountability, not a staging arena for political ambition,” the statement read.
It further noted that the Assembly, under Ogundoyin’s leadership, has a responsibility to uphold public trust by maintaining clear boundaries between governance and partisan politics.
The group also called on market associations and other stakeholders to exercise restraint, warning that early endorsements could heat up the polity and distract from pressing governance issues in the state.
Plans for the endorsement meeting indicate that leaders of the 12 clusters of market and trader associations, alongside Iyalojas and Babalojas from across the state, are expected to gather on April 9, 2026, to deliberate on backing Ogundoyin for the governorship position.
However, Think Oyo First maintained that political aspirations should be pursued through established democratic processes rather than through coordinated endorsements that may blur the lines between public office and campaign activity.
