Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has officially declared his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election, marking a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape. Speaking on Thursday at a "Unity Mega Rally" at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan, Makinde announced he would contest the position under a strategic alliance between a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The move makes him the first prominent incumbent political office holder from the South-West to openly challenge President Bola Tinubu’s expected re-election bid.
The declaration followed the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Taminu Turaki-led faction of the PDP and the APM leadership. Under this arrangement, the coalition plans to field candidates across all elective positions, from the presidency to state assemblies. Makinde emphasised that this "handshake" between the two parties was a necessary response to the country’s deteriorating economic and security situation, which he claimed has left the majority of Nigerians in "survival mode."
During his address to a massive crowd of supporters, Makinde framed his ambition as a fight to save Nigeria’s democracy from becoming a one-party system. He argued that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had miscalculated by assuming the opposition could not unite. According to Makinde, the true opposition is not merely a political label but consists of everyday Nigerians for whom the current system has failed. He urged citizens to shed political apathy and engage directly with the process to "reset" the nation.
The alliance was bolstered by the presence of several high-ranking political figures. APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle and National Secretary Oyadeyi Ayodele were present to ratify the agreement, alongside PDP stalwarts such as former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and PDP Board of Trustees member Dr. Eddy Olafeso. Olafeso praised Makinde’s strategic management of Oyo State as evidence of his capacity to lead at the national level.
The coalition leaders stated that the APC’s failure to fulfill its campaign promises necessitated this realignment. While the PDP remains embroiled in internal leadership disputes at the national level, the Oyo State Governor’s move to the APM platform suggests a tactical bypass of party friction to secure a clear path to the 2027 ballot. Supporters at the rally described the event as the beginning of a broader movement to offer Nigerians an alternative political direction.