Streets across Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have been flooded with posters of renowned broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat, sparking speculation about his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The posters, tagged “2027 Oyo n pe o” (Oyo is calling you), feature a portrait of the veteran Yoruba broadcaster in black. Although the posters do not specify the office he may be contesting for, they appear to signal his readiness to enter the political arena.
In a video posted by one of his support groups and seen by our correspondent on Wednesday, the founder of Agidigbo FM was seen interacting cheerfully with a crowd at an event. Supporters repeatedly urged him to heed the state’s “call to serve.”
“Okiki (Hamzat), Oyo is calling you. Answer their call,” a supporter was heard saying.
Responding to growing criticism over Hamzat’s shift from media to politics, the official “Oyo n pe o” social media page defended his qualifications, stating:
“The claim that ‘governance is more than speaking into a microphone’ reflects a misunderstanding of leadership. Broadcasting is rooted in communication, empathy, and connection—traits that are fundamental to good governance.”
A photo collage posted on the group’s TikTok page even placed Hamzat alongside former South African President Nelson Mandela, symbolically associating him with visionary leadership.
The statement continued:
“Those who reduce Oriyomi Hamzat’s potential to his profession are either misinformed or biased. Leadership is not defined by profession but by vision, courage, and commitment to service. We call on Dr. Oriyomi Hamzat to respond to this clarion call to serve.”
In another trending video, popular Ibadan-based influencer Funny Thinker also lent his voice to the campaign, saying:
“He said he won’t rest if we don’t, Okiki, the son of Hamzat—we are calling you, please answer us in 2027.”
Hamzat, in a lighthearted response, said, “You will all be alright.”
While the veteran broadcaster has neither declared his candidacy nor addressed the campaign officially, he has also not distanced himself from the movement. Efforts by our correspondent to reach him for comment on the circulating posters were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
