• Oyo APC condemns gov’s threat, describes his presidential bid as political drama
• APM set to flag off its presidential campaign in Abuja

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has cautioned traditional rulers in the state against partisan politics, urging them to remain neutral and unaccessible to politicians regardless of their political affiliations ahead of the 2027 elections.

Makinde gave the warning at the weekend, during the grand finale of the week-long first coronation anniversary of the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola Ajobo Olurin I.

The event also featured the commissioning of the newly renovated Eleruwa Palace and the conferment of chieftaincy titles on Makinde and his wife, Tamunominini.

The governor said monarchs, who openly identified with political parties or candidates could expose themselves to avoidable political attacks, stressing the need for traditional institutions to remain above partisan politics.

He urged traditional rulers to provide royal blessings to political actors who visit their palaces without openly endorsing any candidate or political party.

Makinde, who also spoke on his presidential ambition, disclosed that he would intensify nationwide consultations to seek support for his bid.

He said the political neutrality of traditional rulers was important because politicians from different parties would continue to seek their support and blessings.

The governor, who expressed appreciation to the traditional council in Ibarapaland for conferring on him the title of Aarẹ Asoludero of Ibarapaland and Yeye Aare Asoludero on his wife, described the honours as a call to greater responsibility, noting that it was the first chieftaincy title he had accepted in Oyo State.

Makinde said the title was particularly significant because Ibarapaland was where his political journey began.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has described Makinde’s presidential ambition as a political drama designed to distract Nigerians.

The party, however, chided the governor for threatening traditional rulers and religious leaders in the state over their interactions with APC candidates and supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, at the weekend, cautioned Makinde against issuing threats to citizens of the state, including traditional rulers and religious leaders, “simply because they receive APC candidates and supporters in palaces and places of worship.”

Sadare said the governor’s presidential aspiration lacked the political structure required to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

However, the APM has formally launched its 2027 presidential campaign, with its presidential candidate, Makinde, set to commission the party’s campaign office in Abuja as the party begins nationwide mobilisation ahead of the election.

The campaign office, known as the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Office, will serve as the national coordinating centre for the campaign of Makinde and his running mate, Lawan Daura.

The party said the campaign would be issue-based, centred on presenting Makinde’s record in public service and his proposed solutions to Nigeria’s economic, security and governance challenges.

In a statement, at the weekend, APM National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, said Makinde had consulted political leaders, stakeholders and communities across the country ahead of the campaign and would soon unveil a comprehensive policy blueprint.

The party, which said that addressing the issue of insecurity would be a major component of its campaign, criticised recent comments by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), that the security situation was improving, saying that the assessment did not adequately reflect the experiences of Nigerians affected by killings, kidnappings and displacement