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The Islamic Coordination Council, ICC, has declared that Muslims should produce the next governor of Oyo State in the 2027 governorship election, disagreeing with remarks recently attributed to Governor Seyi Makinde.
In a statement jointly signed by its chairman, Sulaiman Abanise, and secretary, Mas’ud Akintola, the council said its position was based on what it described as an established, though unofficial, tradition of balancing religious representation in the state’s leadership.
According to the group, the arrangement became more evident during the 2019 political transition when a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the state publicly stated that it was the turn of Christians to govern after the administration of former governor Abiola Ajimobi.
The ICC was reacting to comments reportedly made by Governor Makinde during a farewell event organised for 2026 Hajj pilgrims.
The council criticised the governor’s comparison between executive and legislative representation in the state, particularly his reference to previous Muslim senators, arguing that such comparisons overlooked the unique influence and powers attached to the office of governor.
“We are aware that the governor is sufficiently educated to understand the difference between executive and legislative roles,” the statement read.
The group further described the remarks as “misleading,” adding that they amounted to “an insult to the intelligence of the citizenry.”
The council pointed out that only six of the 18 individuals who have occupied the Agodi Government House since 1976 were Muslims, insisting that this justified the emergence of a Muslim governor after Makinde’s tenure.
The ICC also questioned the consistency of the governor’s position by referencing his 2021 decision to appoint a Muslim deputy governor after the impeachment of his former deputy.
According to the council, the development suggested that religious considerations had previously played a role in political appointments within the state.
The statement further alleged that CAN was involved in consultations with Muslim leaders during Governor Makinde’s re-election campaign.
The group warned that any attempt to ignore religious balancing in the 2027 succession process could carry political consequences, including the possibility of strengthening opposition parties during the election.
