Makinde Declares 2027 Presidential Ambition, Seeks Opposition Unity To “Reset Nigeria”•••As PDP, APM Hold Unity Mega Rally In Ibadan
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN — Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Thursday formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, saying Nigeria requires an urgent “reset” in the face of worsening insecurity, economic hardship and rising political tension.
Makinde made the declaration at a Unity Mega Rally held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, organised to formalise a political alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM).
The governor described the alliance as the beginning of a broader opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that Nigeria risks drifting into a one-party state if opposition parties fail to unite.
Addressing party faithful, supporters and political stakeholders at the rally, Makinde said the nation’s democratic structure was under threat.
“Without a multi-party system, there is no democracy. Where is our multi-party system? Where do we go from here?” he asked.
He lamented the economic and security challenges confronting Nigerians, saying many citizens had been forced into “survival mode.”
“We have been pushed to the wall.
The calculated self-opposition cannot unite, but I am here to say the opposition is the everyday Nigerian. This is the time to engage as citizens, not spectators,” he said.
Makinde called on opposition political parties to close ranks and work together in order to provide what he described as the “reset Nigeria needs.”
“For the opposition political parties, this is the time to unite and work together in unity to give our nation the reset it needs. The time to reset Nigeria is now,” he added.
Describing Ibadan as the “city of warriors,” the governor said the PDP–APM alliance signalled the start of a new political direction and disclosed that the coalition would field candidates for all elective positions, from the presidency to state assemblies.
“And so, I declare my candidacy for the office of the President of Nigeria,” Makinde announced to loud cheers from supporters.
Earlier in the day, leaders of both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the PDP Secretariat, Adagunodo House, Ibadan, formally sealing the alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the rally, the Oyo State PDP Chairman, Dayo Ogungbenro, described the gathering as “historic,” expressing optimism that the alliance would strengthen the party’s electoral prospects.
Leaders of the APM, including the party’s National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Naman Dantale, and National Secretary, Ayodele Oyadeyi, also called for urgent political reforms, citing insecurity, economic hardship and the growing difficulty faced by Nigerians in accessing quality education and healthcare services.