Adegoke Olopoeyan alliance talks gain attention as ADC candidate Adegboyega Adegoke meets APM chieftain Abdul-Rasheed Olopoeyan ahead of Oyo 2027
Olooye Adegboyega Adegoke, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, and Alhaji Abdul-Rasheed Adebisi Olopoeyan, a chieftain of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), held a closed-door meeting in Ibadan on Thursday, August 20, amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
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Adegoke arrived at Olopoeyan’s residence in the Basorun area of Ibadan accompanied by Alhaja Kafilat Omolabake Olayiwola, the ADC Deputy National Women Leader for the South-West.
The purpose of the meeting was not publicly disclosed, but the encounter has drawn attention because of the political history shared by the two men and the timing of their discussions.
Political sources told MetroNews that the discussions may have centred on the 2027 governorship contest, although neither Adegoke nor Olopoeyan publicly confirmed that an alliance had been concluded.
The meeting nevertheless carries considerable political weight. Adegoke and Olopoeyan previously operated within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before moving to different political platforms.
Their latest encounter therefore comes against the backdrop of a rapidly shifting political landscape in Oyo State.
The speculation also comes at a sensitive point in the state’s political calendar, with parties and influential politicians already positioning themselves well ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship election.
Adegoke secured the ADC governorship ticket in May after winning the party’s primary with 16,051 votes.
Chief Bisi Ilaka finished second with 11,415 votes, while Gbemileke Alagbe, Dr Azeez Adeduntan and Niyi Aborishade recorded 241, 155 and 67 votes respectively.
Following his victory, Adegoke signalled a willingness to build a broad political coalition rather than pursue the contest in isolation.
“I am ready to work with everybody. We will work together. We will brainstorm together for the betterment of Oyo State,” Adegoke said after emerging as the ADC candidate.
That message has become increasingly relevant as the ADC candidate works to consolidate support across the state’s 33 local government areas.
On August 17, Adegoke inaugurated a 25-member campaign council and unveiled an ambitious programme that includes constructing at least 10 kilometres of inner roads in each local government area within his first 100 days if elected.
He also proposed an Ibadan-Saki rail line, improvements to public-school science laboratories, increased agricultural production and greater financial autonomy for local governments.
Adegoke has also faced political uncertainty within the ADC. His media team recently reaffirmed his status as the party’s recognised governorship candidate following claims by another aspirant.
The dispute is before the Federal High Court in Ibadan, with the case adjourned until September 15, 2026.
For Olopoeyan, the latest meeting comes amid reported differences with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who is also preparing for the next electoral cycle.
MetroNews reported that Olopoeyan and Makinde are backing different candidates for the December 2026 local government elections, potentially adding another layer to the political calculations ahead of 2027.
The significance of Thursday’s meeting therefore extends beyond a private political conversation.
If the discussions develop into a formal working arrangement, the relationship could strengthen Adegoke’s efforts to broaden the ADC’s reach while giving Olopoeyan another platform through which to influence the state’s evolving political equation.
For now, however, there is no public confirmation of a formal alliance, joint ticket or electoral agreement between the two politicians.
What is clear is that Oyo’s 2027 contest is already generating the kind of behind-the-scenes consultations that often precede major political realignments.
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With more than five months still to go before the February 2027 election, the latest meeting offers an early glimpse of how alliances, old relationships and new political interests could shape the race.
