Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has formally entered the 2027 presidential race, unveiling a fresh political coalition between factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in what appeared to be an early bid to reshape Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the next general election.
Makinde made the declaration on Thursday, May 14, 2026, during a massive political gathering held at Mapo Hall in Ibadan, where supporters of both parties converged to endorse a new alliance aimed at challenging the ruling establishment in 2027.
Addressing party loyalists and political stakeholders, the Oyo governor said the worsening economic and social realities confronting Nigerians had compelled him to seek the nation’s highest office.
According to him, millions of citizens have been forced into daily hardship while those entrusted with governance have failed to provide meaningful leadership and direction.
Makinde argued that the opposition could no longer afford fragmentation, insisting that ordinary Nigerians dissatisfied with the current state of the country now constitute the real opposition force.
“The struggle before us goes beyond political parties. Nigerians are demanding a new direction and a leadership that understands their pain,” the governor declared before a cheering crowd.
As part of the political realignment, Makinde announced the formation of a strategic alliance between the PDP bloc loyal to him and the APM, describing the coalition as the foundation for a nationwide electoral push in 2027.
The governor explained that the arrangement would allow candidates aligned with the coalition to contest elections at all levels under the APM platform, including the presidency, governorship, National Assembly and state legislative seats.
Earlier at the event, Makinde joined leaders of the Taminu Turaki-led PDP faction in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the APM leadership.
The agreement was jointly endorsed by the governor and APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, signalling what both parties described as a coordinated political partnership ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Under the terms of the pact, aspirants linked to the PDP faction in Oyo State are expected to contest future elections on the APM platform rather than under the PDP banner.
However, the development immediately sparked fierce criticism from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who dismissed Makinde’s presidential ambition as politically unrealistic.
Wike, reacting during an inspection tour of ongoing projects in the FCT, described claims of a PDP–APM alliance as deceptive, insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had no official record recognising such a coalition.
According to him, the PDP remains a separate political entity preparing independently for the 2027 elections.
The former Rivers State governor accused opposition figures of attempting to mislead Nigerians with what he termed a fabricated coalition narrative, arguing that Makinde’s political calculations were solely aimed at advancing a personal presidential ambition.
Wike said, “What is happening is simply Seyi Makinde moving into the APM to pursue his ambition”, maintaining that the PDP would ultimately present its own presidential candidate in 2027.
He further insisted that discussions within the party, including engagements involving Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, never recognised any formal merger or alliance with the APM.
Wike also suggested that Makinde would not emerge as the presidential flag bearer of the PDP, stressing that internal party structures remained intact despite recent political manoeuvres.
