2027: I can’t work against Tinubu – Oriyomi Hamzat

Popular broadcaster and Accord Party governorship candidate in Oyo State, Oriyomi Hamzat. Credit: Hamzat | X

The Oyo State governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Oriyomi Hamzat, has said he cannot work against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Hamzat spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the University of Ibadan’s 2026 convocation and 78th Foundation Day ceremony, where he graduated with a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution.

The PUNCH reports that Hamzat is an Ibadan-based radio presenter and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of 88.7 Agidigbo FM.

His position on Tinubu followed a meeting with former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, who visited him in Ibadan to seek his support and that of Accord members for the President’s re-election.

Speaking with journalists on Saturday, Hamzat said his support for Tinubu was informed by party loyalty, stressing that he could not engage in anti-party activities.

He said, “Our party, Accord, does not have a presidential candidate. So, the party picked Bola Tinubu to be our presidential candidate that the party will work with. I cannot do anti-party. I have to follow the guidelines of my party. We will work for Tinubu.

“Secondly, I’m a governorship candidate struggling to have my way out of the big politicians that I’m facing. So, for me to come out and say I’m working against Tinubu, when we don’t have another candidate, it’s counterproductive.”

On his governorship ambition, Hamzat ruled out stepping down for any candidate, saying he was determined to contest the election.

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“I’m contesting. I’m not desperate to be in a position, but I’m determined to serve my people. I will never step down for anyone,” he said.

He promised to unveil a people-centred manifesto focused on public welfare and grassroots development.

“The best thing that will happen to Oyo is to have Oriyomi Hamzat as their next governor. I will soon unveil my manifesto, and my manifesto will be one of its kind because it is a people-centric manifesto. It is centred on the people,” he said.

Hamzat added that, if elected, his administration would establish mediation centres across the state’s 33 local government areas to resolve disputes before they escalate into security challenges.

“Our government will create a mediation centre throughout the 33 local governments of the state before the problem boomerangs. It could be settled within the micro-settings of our society,” he said.

He explained that his decision to pursue a master’s degree was intended to complement his experience in traditional dispute resolution with formal academic training.

“Before now, I had been using native intelligence and the experience of our forefathers, how they settle disputes. When I got to the University of Ibadan to get a certificate to back me up, I realised there were so many areas that I needed to work on,” he said.