Three officials in Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration have resigned their appointments, adding to the growing number of government officials who have left their positions in recent months. The latest departures involve Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Ayobami Oluwaseun Ojo, Special Adviser on Budget and Economic Planning Simeon Adegbola Oyeleke, and Sunday Olugbenga Falana, a member of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC).
The officials submitted separate resignation letters on Monday, November 2, 2026, and their decisions took immediate effect. Their departures have attracted attention as political activities increase ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the three officials thanked Governor Makinde for the opportunity to serve, only Oyeleke publicly identified dissatisfaction with the working environment as a reason for leaving.
Oyo Officials Resign From Key Government Positions
Ojo announced his departure in a letter addressed to Governor Makinde through the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde. He referenced his appointment letter dated June 22, 2026, before formally notifying the governor of his decision to leave the cabinet.
The former commissioner said his resignation would take effect immediately, beginning November 2. He also expressed appreciation to Makinde for the confidence placed in him and the opportunity to contribute to the development of Oyo State.
However, Ojo did not disclose any specific circumstances that influenced his decision to leave the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. His letter focused mainly on his appreciation for the opportunity to serve.
Similarly, Oyeleke submitted his resignation as Special Adviser on Budget and Economic Planning. However, his letter provided more insight into the circumstances surrounding his departure.
The former two-term member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and local government chairman said he was no longer comfortable with the working environment within the administration. He explained that the prevailing circumstances had made it difficult for him to effectively pursue and fulfil the aspirations of the people he represented.
Despite expressing dissatisfaction, Oyeleke acknowledged Makinde’s leadership, encouragement and support during his time in government. He also appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the administration’s policies and development programmes.
Meanwhile, Falana also resigned his appointment as a member of OYSIEC. In his letter, addressed to the governor through the Chief of Staff, he thanked Makinde for appointing him to serve on the state’s electoral management body.
Falana described his experience on the commission as worthwhile but did not provide a specific explanation for his departure.
Previous Resignations Add to Pressure on Makinde’s Administration
The latest Oyo officials resign developments come against the background of several other departures from Makinde’s administration since the beginning of the year.
One of the most notable exits occurred on October 12, when the governor’s Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, resigned after serving in the position since July 2021. His departure marked the end of more than five years in the governor’s office, although he did not publicly disclose his reasons for leaving.
Tara Adefope, the former Director-General of the Oyo State Due Process Office, also resigned around the same period. The governor subsequently appointed replacements to some of the affected positions, including Akinwole Akinwole as Chief of Staff and Aderonke Adedayo as Director-General of the Due Process Office.
Other officials who have previously left the administration include former Special Adviser on Security Fatai Owoseni, former Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters Funmi Arulogun and former member of the Oyo State Advisory Council Babatunde Oduyoye.
In late October, the resignation of Kabiru Salami, the governor’s Executive Assistant on Security Coordination, added to the departures from the administration.
These developments have drawn attention to the changing political relationships within Oyo State as parties and political figures prepare for the next general elections. However, the timing of the resignations does not establish that the officials left for the same reasons or that their decisions resulted from a single political development.
Government Yet to Explain All Three Departures
The latest resignations have also raised questions about possible changes within the state’s administrative structure, particularly in the budget and economic planning sector, where both Ojo and Oyeleke held senior responsibilities.
Their departures, alongside Falana’s exit from OYSIEC, affect different areas of government administration and electoral management.
Nevertheless, the resignation letters provide limited information about the circumstances surrounding the decisions. While Oyeleke identified concerns about his working environment, Ojo and Falana did not publicly explain their reasons for leaving.
As of November 3, the Oyo State Government had not released a comprehensive statement explaining the three departures or announced replacements for the affected positions.
The development leaves attention on the governor’s next administrative decisions as his government continues its work ahead of the end of his second term in 2027.
