By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, saying Nigeria requires urgent reforms to address the country’s worsening socio-economic and political challenges.
Makinde announced his presidential ambition during the joint mega-rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement(APM) in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Declaring his intention to enter the race for the nation’s highest office in APM, the governor said Nigeria had reached a critical stage that required decisive action and a new direction.
“The time to reset Nigeria is now. Therefore, today, I, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, announce my candidacy for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Makinde expressed concern over the current state of the country, saying many Nigerians were struggling daily under difficult economic conditions.
According to him, the nation’s situation had continued to deteriorate while many citizens were forced into survival mode.
“The situation in the country has continued to deteriorate, putting the majority of Nigerians on survival mode on a daily basis,” he said.
He also accused those entrusted with governance of failing to discharge their responsibilities to citizens.
“This is why, for the past several months, one question has been at the top of my mind: where do we go from here? Is this how we should continue as a nation?” he asked.
The Oyo governor argued that many Nigerians had been pushed to their limits by prevailing economic and social realities.
“We have been pushed to the wall with the belief that we will turn against ourselves or worse still, that we will become too weary to survive on a daily basis to fight back,” he stated.
Makinde also dismissed claims that opposition forces in Nigeria could not work together, insisting that a united front was possible.
“They said opposition cannot unite, but I am here today to say that it is a miscalculation,” he said.
“The opposition in Nigeria is not just a political party. The opposition is the everyday Nigerian for whom the country does not work.”
Speaking on the alliance between the PDP and APM, Makinde said the partnership would strengthen political cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections and provide a platform for contesting various elective positions.
“So today in Ibadan, the first grand alliance is formed, the alliance of the PDP and APM,” he stated.
“This handshake will allow us to field candidates at all levels, from the presidency to state assemblies and everything in between.”
