Get Guardian on GoogleAhead of the 2027 general elections, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said he is willing to work with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.
Makinde said this during an interview aired on Friday with ARISE News anchor Ojy Okpe even as the governor confirmed ongoing talks on a possible opposition alliance to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
“Discussions among opposition figures are ongoing, and I am actively involved in efforts to determine the most viable political arrangement ahead of the election. We are still discussing,” Makinde disclosed.
He dismissed talks that he was merely open to an opposition alliance, revealing that he was open to an alliance with other leading opposition figures: “Not only that I’m open, we’re actively discussing this,” he explained.
Makinde, however, declined to endorse either Atiku or Obi as his preferred candidate, arguing that the opposition should rely on evidence, including candidates’ manifestos, previous performance and public sentiment, rather than emotions or personal preferences.
“To arrive at a decision, you need data. We just won’t say, ‘Oh, okay,’ take emotional decisions and say, ‘Oh, it’s you.’ We have manifestos now, we have certain things in that manifesto,” the governor said.
“We will sit down, we may have a historical performance. We also have the sentiment of the people. All of those things will come together and arrive at a decision.
“Depending on what we see between now and the election time, we may be rivals, we may be collaborators, we may be — one may be the client of the other.”
He recently revealed why he is running against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election despite supporting the latter in 2023.
Makinde disclosed this in his latest newsletter titled “RESET NIGERIA”, with the governor planning to contest the presidency on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
“I supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. Today, I am running against him in the 2027 presidential election,” he wrote.
“Some people have asked what changed. Others believe there must have been a personal disagreement between us.
“I understand why they would think that. But my decision is not about a personal disagreement or an ambition to occupy Aso Rock. It is about the future of Nigeria and the opportunities available to Nigerians.”
Makinde said he supported President Tinubu because he believed he could bring people together to build a government of national unity and competence.
He said he also believed that Tinubu’s administration would confront the country’s economic challenges while creating opportunities for Nigerians to build better lives.
“Three years later, I no longer believe his administration is taking us in that direction. To explain why this matters so much to me, I need to tell you a little about myself,” Makinde said, explaining that he grew up in a lower-middle-class family.
