ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that he possesses the capability to occupy Nigeria’s highest political office.
According to him, the 2027 general elections will be a contest between Nigerians and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Makinde, a two-term governor and influential PDP figure, made this assertion during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.
“I don’t have any doubt that I have the capacity to occupy the highest office in this land and I have what it takes.
“But what I want to do right now, is it what Nigerians are asking for right now, is it what my party will say we should do, we don’t know; we still have a long time to go.
“But where we are right now is that we must fix our party, we must have a platform for you to even aspire to be anything.
“Let me also say this: if my political journey ends here, I am also happy”, he said.
Makinde emphasized that the PDP must be internally stable before considering any political expansion or coalition.
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Amid fresh realignments ahead of the 2027 polls, former Vice President and PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, spearheaded an inter-party coalition on March 20, 2025.
The alliance, backed by notable figures like former Anambra Governor Peter Obi and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, aims to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s APC administration, which has faced public criticism for economic mismanagement, soaring inflation, and a historic cost of living crisis.
In the 2023 elections, Atiku and Obi combined for over 12 million votes more than four million ahead of Tinubu’s total, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, Makinde and other PDP governors on Monday, April 14, 2025, publicly distanced themselves from the Atiku-led coalition.
“Your house (the PDP) must be in order before you invite others,” Makinde asserted during the broadcast, highlighting the party’s internal challenges.
PDP Board of Trustees member Bode George has also thrown his weight behind the governors’ stance, advocating for a southern candidate to lead the party into the 2027 election.
When asked directly about his 2027 presidential ambition, Makinde responded, “Nobody will set an agenda for me. I will set an agenda for myself.”
He continued, “People can say whatever they want to say (but) right now, I am focusing on what Oyo State people have given to me; the task ahead of us.
“So, I am not distracted. I will not play stunt politics; I will not do things because it feels right in some people’s ears. No, I will stay focused to ensure that we bring dividends of democracy to our people, look after them, and also build infrastructure that will lead our people well into the future.
“That is not consistent with whether somebody is going to go to the federal level or whether people are saying I must contest. If I want to contest, I will come out at the appropriate time.
“One thing you should expect from Seyi Makinde is that he would never come out to say I want to do XYZ without preparations and without being held accountable for whatever he says he wants to do”, he said.