A former Commissioner of Police and immediate past Special Adviser on Security Matters to Oyo State Governor, Fatai Owoseni, has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 Oyo State governorship election under the platform of Accord.
Owoseni declared his ambition on Saturday after picking up his interest and nomination forms at the party’s state secretariat in Yemetu, Ibadan, ahead of the February 6, 2027 gubernatorial election.
The former police chief was received by top leaders of the party, including the National Secretary of Accord, Adebukola Ajaja, and the National Vice Chairman, Paul Sunday Igbinsola.
Speaking with journalists shortly after obtaining the forms, Owoseni said his decision to join the governorship race was driven by a desire to contribute meaningfully to the continued development of Oyo State and consolidate on the achievements of previous administrations.
According to him, governance should be centred on “value addition” and service to humanity.
“I express my aspiration to see what impact I can make on the state, especially to consolidate on what past governors have done in Oyo State,” he said.
The retired police officer, who spent 35 years in the Nigeria Police Force, said his years in public service were dedicated to humanity and that retirement had not diminished his commitment to the development of his home state.
He noted that despite opportunities to remain outside the country or elsewhere, he chose to stay back in Oyo State because of his passion to contribute to its growth.
Owoseni also dismissed the notion that politics is inherently dirty, insisting that individuals with integrity must participate in governance to prevent bad leadership from thriving.
“It is not politics that is dirty; it is some people in politics that make it look dirty. I am going into politics with integrity and with the aim of making life better for the greatest number of people,” he stated.
The governorship aspirant lamented the state of leadership in Nigeria, arguing that many Nigerians excel abroad because of the opportunities and systems available in other countries, while poor leadership continues to hinder progress at home.
He urged professionals and credible Nigerians abroad to return and contribute to nation-building instead of merely lamenting the situation of the country.
Drawing from his experience in international assignments with the United Nations in countries such as Angola and Sudan, Owoseni said Nigeria once played major roles in supporting other African nations but now faces the embarrassment of its citizens being rejected abroad.
He, however, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for infrastructural strides in Oyo State, particularly road projects and efforts to connect different senatorial districts.
“The governor has made a lot of impact. Roads that were abandoned for decades are now being fixed. But we should not allow the progress to waste,” he added.
On political endorsements and structure ahead of the election, Owoseni said he was more interested in building a genuine grassroots movement than relying on political godfathers or public endorsements.
He maintained that leadership remains the key factor in governance, citing his tenure in the police where he said he transformed policing operations in Lagos through discipline and accountability.
The former security adviser also warned against vote-buying and monetisation of politics, saying politicians who spend heavily to buy votes would ultimately seek to recover such funds from public resources when elected.
“If I sell my house or steal public money to share during elections, I will definitely want to recover it. That is part of what is destroying our system,” he said.
Owoseni called on Nigerians to embrace responsible leadership and support leaders with integrity, stressing that public office should be seen as an opportunity for service rather than personal enrichment.
