As political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has urged politicians across ideological divides to engage in robust debate on issues affecting the people rather than resorting to insults and personal attacks.

Ladoja made the call on Monday when members of the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), led by its chairman, Prof. Ramoni Akinoso, and the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, visited him at the Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan.

The monarch said political candidates should focus their campaigns on issues such as poverty alleviation, education, healthcare and land use, which directly affect the welfare of the electorate.

He described all governorship candidates in the 2027 Oyo State election as members of his household, urging them to conduct themselves with maturity and avoid bitterness in their campaigns.

Ladoja said: “While I welcome you to Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo, there is no gubernatorial candidate in the 2027 election that does not belong to my household, including you, the former Deputy Governor, Chief Hazeem Gbolarumi. All of you belong to No. 28 Ondo Street, Bodija.”

Olubadan urged the politicians, as members of the same household, to eschew bitterness and concentrate on presenting their programmes and ideas to the electorate.

He said robust discussion of issues would enable voters to make informed choices during the election, adding that politicians should remember the masses, particularly their supporters, if elected.

Ladoja also congratulated candidates contesting various elective positions on the PDP platform in the 2027 elections and urged them to prioritise the interests of the people.

Earlier, Gbolarumi, who lauded the Olubadan’s contributions to Oyo State, presented the PDP candidates to the monarch for royal blessing.

Gbolarumi recalled that Ladoja contested and won the 2003 Oyo State governorship election on the platform of the PDP, stressing that the party and its candidates would continue to seek his royal blessing.

Members of the Olubadan-in-Council at the meeting included the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; Otun Olubadan, Oba Eddy Oyewole; Otun Balogun, Oba Kolawole Adegbola; Asipa Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Asipa Balogun, Oba Abiodun Azeez Agagagugu; Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Adebayo Akande; and Ekerin Balogun, Oba Mobolaji Adewoyin.