The All Progressives Congress Youth League has called on the leadership of the party at both state and national levels to strategically consider Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin as the most sellable, credible, and widely acceptable candidate for the party in the build-up to the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State.
In a statement issued by the Diaspora Director of the Forum, Adebayo Oketooto, the group noted that the forthcoming governorship contest in Oyo State would require the APC to present a candidate with proven administrative competence, broad public appeal, and the intellectual depth necessary to challenge the incumbent People’s Democratic Party government led by Seyi Makinde.
According to the Forum, the political realities in Oyo State demand that personal ambitions within the APC be subordinated to the larger objective of reclaiming the state for progressive governance.
It stressed that while several aspirants may have legitimate political interests, the overriding concern must be the emergence of a candidate whose profile naturally inspires confidence across party lines, among young voters, professionals, grassroots stakeholders, and the wider electorate.
The APC Youth League stated that Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin represents that rare combination of technocratic excellence, political experience, and practical governance exposure that Oyo State urgently requires at this critical stage of its development.
The Forum observed that Dr Gbadegesin’s outstanding academic pedigree, including a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction from Howard University and a doctorate in Neuroscience from Georgetown University, reflects the quality of intellectual preparation needed in modern governance, particularly at a time when subnational administrations must increasingly rely on innovation, strategic planning, and institutional reforms to deliver development.
It further noted that beyond academic excellence, Dr Gbadegesin has built an impressive record in public administration through strategic roles he played under Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola in Lagos State, where he contributed significantly to land administration reforms, digital property documentation, and revenue system modernization that strengthened governance and improved institutional efficiency.
The Forum emphasised that one of the strongest factors working in Dr Gbadegesin’s favour is his practical familiarity with Oyo State governance, having served meritoriously under the late Abiola Ajimobi as Special Adviser, Commissioner for Health, and Deputy Chief of Staff.
It recalled that during his tenure as Commissioner for Health, he initiated the first statewide ambulance service in Oyo State and championed health insurance reforms aimed at expanding access to affordable healthcare.
According to the statement, these achievements clearly distinguish him from many aspirants because they demonstrate not only policy understanding but also a tested capacity to deliver measurable results within Oyo’s governance environment.
The Forum added that his present role as Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority further confirms his executive competence, especially in managing complex public systems, environmental reforms, and service delivery in one of Africa’s largest urban centres.
It also stressed that Dr Gbadegesin enjoys growing acceptability among young people in Oyo State because he represents a new leadership culture anchored on competence, integrity, innovation, and institutional thinking rather than conventional political rhetoric.
The APC Youth League stated that many young professionals, students, and emerging entrepreneurs across Oyo increasingly see Dr. Gbadegesin as a bridge between experienced governance and future-oriented leadership, capable of modernising critical sectors such as healthcare, education, technology, industrial development, urban planning, and internally generated revenue.
The statement, therefore, appealed to all other aspirants within the APC to close ranks, embrace unity, and rally behind Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin in the spirit of party victory and collective progress.
According to the Forum, the APC cannot afford internal fragmentation ahead of such a decisive election, especially when facing an incumbent administration with established political structures.
It added that presenting a consensus candidate with broad appeal would significantly strengthen the APC’s electoral chances and inspire public confidence ahead of 2027.
The group further appealed to party leaders, elders, and stakeholders across Oyo’s political zones to begin sincere consultations that would produce a united front around Dr Gbadegesin’s candidacy.
The Forum concluded that if properly supported, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin possesses the popularity, credibility, and administrative strength required to return the APC to the Oyo State Government House in 2027 and usher in a new era of purposeful governance for the people of Oyo State.
Hence, the forum has concluded plans to collapse its structure in Oyo state into working assiduously towards galvanising the needed support in ensuring Dr Gbadegeshin’s emergence.
A date would soon be announced for the inauguration of the new movement, which would be known as the Muyiwa Gbadegeshin Youth Support Group.
