Seyi Makinde on Thursday formally declared his intention to run for president in Nigeria’s 2027 election, unveiling a new opposition alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples’ Movement amid growing efforts to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Speaking before thousands of supporters at a rally held at Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the Oyo state governor announced his candidacy under what organisers described as a broader coalition project aimed at “resetting” Nigeria’s political direction.
“Today, I, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, announce my candidacy for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the PDP/APM alliance,” he declared.
Makinde’s entry into the race places him alongside a growing field of opposition figures expected to challenge Bola Tinubu in 2027, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi and Adewole Adebayo.
The rally, branded a “Unity Mega Rally” by organisers, drew party supporters and political stakeholders from across the country, transforming central Ibadan into a festival-like political gathering marked by chants, music and displays of party colours.
In his speech, Makinde warned that Nigeria was drifting towards a one-party state, accusing the ruling establishment of interfering in opposition parties in an attempt to weaken democratic competition.
“We have witnessed the continuous meddling in the affairs of opposition parties in our dear country with the aim of taking Nigeria to a one-party system,” he said.
“Without a multiparty system, there is no democracy.”
The governor argued that the country had reached a decisive political moment and urged opposition groups to unite around a common cause.
“The opposition in Nigeria is not just the political parties,” he said. “It is the everyday Nigerian for whom the country does not work.”
Makinde also criticised the country’s worsening economic and security conditions, saying many citizens had been pushed into hardship while political leaders treated public office as personal entitlement.
Calling for broader civic participation, he urged Nigerians to reject political apathy and become actively engaged in shaping the country’s future.
“This is the time for every one of us to shake off the apathy that is gradually taking root and engage with the political process to ensure that Nigeria works for us,” he said.
“It is time to confront our fears. It is time to be engaged citizens and not spectators in our own country.”
Earlier in the day, senior figures from both the PDP and APM signed a memorandum of understanding at the PDP South-West Secretariat in Ibadan, formalising the alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.
Makinde described the agreement as the foundation of a broader coalition movement, which he called the “Reset Nigeria Movement”.
“This partnership will enable us to present candidates at every level of government, from the presidency to the state houses of assembly and every office in between,” he said.
Among those present at the signing and the subsequent rally were former Osun state governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, PDP National Vice Chairman (South-East) Ali Odefa, and senior officials of both parties.
Oyinlola said the alliance emerged from widespread dissatisfaction with the performance of the Tinubu administration, arguing that many of the promises made during the 2023 election campaign had failed to materialise.
“But where are we today?” he asked. “That was the purpose of the opposition summit in Ibadan, to chart a new course for the country and build a stronger alliance capable of addressing the challenges facing Nigerians.”
The development, however, was swiftly dismissed by Nyesom Wike, who denied the existence of any formal alliance involving the PDP.
Speaking while inspecting road construction projects in Abuja, Wike described the coalition narrative as fraudulent and accused Makinde of pursuing what he called “Political 419”.
“There is no alliance between PDP and APM or any other political party,” Wike said.
“INEC also knows that there is nothing called a PDP-APM alliance.”
The former Rivers state governor argued that the PDP’s ongoing internal presidential screening process demonstrated that no coalition agreement existed, insisting that Makinde’s political strategy was “dead on arrival”.
“What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to be able to actualise his presidential ambition,” he said, “which is already dead on arrival.”
