Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has formally declared his intention to contest 2027 presidential election, unveiling his ambition during a political rally in Ibadan alongside a new alliance between a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The declaration was made at the “Unity Mega Rally Ibadan 2026” held at Mapo Hall on Thursday, where supporters and political allies gathered amid growing opposition realignments ahead of the next general elections.
“I, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, Excellency, announce my candidacy for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The development signals a major political realignment within the opposition camp amid the lingering leadership crisis rocking the PDP at the national level.
At the rally held in Ibadan, supporters, party loyalists and political stakeholders gathered in large numbers as Makinde unveiled what observers described as an early structure for his national political ambition.
The governor’s declaration immediately sparked excitement among supporters at the venue, many of whom chanted solidarity songs and hailed the move as a fresh direction for opposition politics ahead of 2027.
During the ceremony, Seyi Bamidele signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the PDP faction, while Oladele Oyadeji signed for the APM.
Makinde and the National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Dantalle, also endorsed the agreement on behalf of both parties.
The agreement is expected to pave the way for candidates loyal to the governor to formally adopt the APM as their political platform for future elections.
The latest development comes amid worsening internal battles within the PDP following the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s prolonged leadership tussle.
